Jobs losses in textiles shake up A TEXTILE firm is axing 14 managerial jobs as part of a major shake up.

J B Broadley of Rawtenstall said increasing competition from the Far East had forced it to introduce a restructuring at its Burnley Road factory where 174 are employed.

In addition to the 14 managerial staff, two shopfloor workers have volunteered to take early retirement.

But managing director Julie Smith stressed the restructuring was a positive move for the company.

She said: "The fact that we have been able to keep our highly skilled production staff in this restructuring shows that we see a strong future for the company."

The firm, which specialises in textile coating, has been affected by the move of much of the local footwear industry to production sites overseas but has developed new products to compensate.

It coats fabrics used to make airbags and for products including hospital mattresses in addition to products for footwear firms.

It is also working on a number of developments in highly skilled manufacturing.

These areas are harder for Far East manufacturers to replicate.

More than 70 per cent of J B Broadley's product range is now in new products away from its traditional footwear market.

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