Almost 80 North West jobs are at risk after Nerudia, a nicotine products manufacturer owned by a FTSE 100-listed firm, announced a major restructure.
A spokesman from Nerudia and Imperial Brands today confirmed a proposed restructuring of the business, which develops products to encourage smokers to switch to less harmful alternatives.
The move could mean the loss of 77 roles across the firm's R&D production facility in Speke, Liverpool.
The firm told BusinessLive the proposal came after "significant consideration", and will include redeploying staff internally and re-training them "wherever possible".
It added that job losses are "always regrettable" - and that it will ensure staff are treated "in a fair and responsible manner".
A statement from Imperial Brands said: “We have today announced a proposed restructuring of our Nerudia business which could potentially result in the loss of 77 roles across our R&D and production facility in Liverpool.
“The proposal was put forward after significant consideration and supports our ongoing work to transform Imperial by simplifying our operations and implementing new ways of working to place the consumer at the centre of our business."
A total of 160 people are based at the Merseyside site - meaning almost half of them will be affected by today's announcement.
When the £11m site opened back in 2014, Nerudia said it would become Europe's biggest nicotine manufacturing site.
Nerudia develops various products including vapour, heated tobacco and oral nicotine delivery. Manufacturing at the Speke site includes producing e-liquid for vaping. In 2017, it became part of Imperial Brands - a Bristol-based, FTSE 100-listed firm with over 30,000 employees worldwide. Imperial is the world's fourth-largest international cigarette company.
The statement continued: “As part of the consultation process we will be discussing a range of employee support measures which will include, wherever possible, internal redeployment and re-training.
“The prospect of job losses is always regrettable and we are committed to ensuring that our people are treated in a fair and responsible manner.”
