Numatic has started making redundancies at Chard site

An employee who has worked at the company for around 15 years has said to the County Gazette that the CSS department is among those that have been made redundant.

The employee, who wishes to remain anonymous, claims that those impacted have been offered alternative hours and jobs that are “completely inappropriate”.

In response to the allegations raised, a spokesperson for Numatic International said: “All impacted employees have been offered alternative roles, and our priority remains making sure everyone affected is fully supported.

“Numatic is currently recruiting for a further 20 roles across a range of departments and functions at the site.

“Once this recruitment is complete, our overall headcount will be higher than it was at the end of 2025.

“We would also encourage anyone in the local community who may be interested in these opportunities to get in touch with our recruitment team at jobs@numatic.co.uk.”

A relative of the employee said: “They might as well offer you a job at the circus. It’s ridiculous.

“It’s so ridiculous it's almost laughable.”

They said: “I am just really disappointed in Numatics.

“Considering they are such a large, trusted employer in Chard, it feels like a kick in the teeth, really.

“15 years in the company, and now they have turned around and said, ‘Oh well. You are no good to us now.’

“It’s really disappointing. We have been pushed into a corner.”

The relative said the employee is “really hacked off” and feels like they have been taken advantage of.

They said: “It wouldn’t be so bad if they offered to help. It all just seems really unfair.

“I get they must be closing down departments, but it would have been nice if they offered to find [them] another job in the factory.

“I find it hard to imagine they can’t find something. Someone else has got to be doing that job.

“If they had been able to do something like that, it would have made all the difference.

“It all just feels purposeful.”