Fresh job losses have been announced at a historic Wiltshire manufacturing business with a union warning the future of its factory is now in serious doubt.
The announcement of 47 further redundancies at Airsprung in Trowbridge comes as union GMB claims machinery is being taken away from the site and the factory gates have been padlocked.
Administrators PwC confirmed the latest redundancies, saying the business had moved to a "significantly reduced operating model" following the completion of a major production programme.
The cuts come four months after Airsprung Group PLC and Airsprung Furniture Limited entered administration, when 71 jobs were lost.
A spokesperson for PwC said: "Airsprung Furniture Limited continues to trade in administration.
"Following the conclusion of a significant customer production programme, the business has moved to a significantly reduced operating model focused primarily on unbranded, or white-label, mattress production.
"As a result of the reduced level of activity, 47 roles have been made redundant.
"The remaining workforce will continue to support ongoing production and the wider operations of the business while the administrators continue to assess the position."
The latest announcement means a total of 118 jobs have been lost since the company entered administration in May.
Read more
Beloved festival almost axed as organisers issue urgent plea
Arrests after police storm home in major drugs raid
Huge blow for town centre as major road closure to overrun by a month
However, the GMB union says developments at the factory have raised serious concerns about the future of the site.
Andy Newman, regional organiser for GMB, said the Airsprung sign had been removed from the factory gates this week and that the gates had been padlocked.
He said: "Our former shop steward at the factory says that the asset strippers seem to now be in there, and machinery is being taken away.
"GMB believes that all the former staff are gone, and even the security guards have been replaced with new security guards."
Mr Newman described the situation as "a tragedy for the local area".
He said: "While some of the fault may lie with Airsprung's own management decisions, the bigger picture is that the company was the victim of disastrous government policies which have pushed up energy costs to the point where the UK manufacturing sector is increasingly uncompetitive.
"It is vital that government changes course to lower energy prices for businesses, to protect jobs, and so that consumers can buy high-quality British products."
Full access to all of our articles online and on the app, fewer adverts, a better reading experience, exclusive competitions and more - all for less than the price of a cup of coffee. ☕️Subscribe now! - https://t.co/t7A1ayW7mR pic.twitter.com/Dk1fvaFm1K
— Wiltshire Times (@wiltshiretimes) April 13, 2026
PwC declined to comment further when asked about the union's claims regarding the removal of machinery and the future of the factory.
Airsprung has been one of Trowbridge's best-known manufacturers for around 150 years and was a major local employer.
Share