'We knew it was coming... but not yet'

An ex-employee has spoken out about the ‘appalling’ impact of the closure of a huge Yodel distribution centre in Shaw. The move put 350 jobs at risk and has left a number of staffers looking at an ‘uncertain future’, the former member of staff says.

The delivery service shut the doors of its Beal Lane site last month (July 8), just six weeks after announcing the decision.

The council said it worked closely with the employer to support staff into other jobs. But some have still struggled to find new roles.

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One ex-employee, who didn't want to named through fear of losing his redundancy pay, said there had been no suitable options for his specialism. The father of two girls said: "I can't find a job because I'm the wrong end of 50.

"I was [at Yodel] nine years and my redundancy isn't massive. I'm getting about £5,000. I've got enough money to last me until about October and then I've got no money at all because I haven't got any savings.”

He added that he was unhappy with the way the closure had been handled.

"We knew it was coming but we were told it would be next year,” the ex employee said. “They didn't give us much time.”

The Oldham resident said the ordeal has taken a heavy toll on struggling families. He claimed he has started taking antidepressants because of the stress and anxiety the situation was causing him.

The ex employee said: "It's appalling, the mental health impact of what people have gone through.”

The closure has been ‘on the table’ since 2020, when the company declared it would need to relocate to a more ‘suitable’ site in the next five years. At the time, local councillors hoped the parcel giant would remain