The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) has confirmed that it will close a manufacturing site on the Isle of Wight by the end of next year, affecting 70 employees.
Following a staff consultation, RNLI announced yesterday that it will move its lifeboats production from its inshore lifeboat centre (ILC) in East Cowes to another site in Poole, Dorset.
It anticipates that the consolidation of its lifeboat manufacturing into one location will lead to a reduction in production hours by a third.
An RNLI spokesperson told Civil Society that the charity employs around 70 employees at ILC and “will follow a full and fair engagement with all affected employees”.
“We aren’t entering into another official consultation; this’ll be consulting with employees about what this decision means for them and the right support we need to provide them,” they said.
“We’ll actively explore redeployment opportunities across the RNLI, including discussing opportunities for the redeployment to the Poole site.”
They added that the charity will “continue to look for practical ways to support redeployment, including training and job search support”.
“By sharing this decision well in advance of the planned closure by the end of 2027, we aim to give employees as much time as possible to consider their options and access support.”
RNLI said the proposal, which came after the launch of its five-year plan and 2040 Lifeboat Fleet Strategy, would ensure that it “can remain sustainable and fit for the future”.
Opened in 1963, the ILC builds and maintains up to 80 boats each year and requires over £5m in capital investment to remain compliant with legislation on building and testing conditions.
In contrast, the charity said its Poole site is a newer, larger facility that can take on the wider manufacturing requirements of its future fleet.
“These factors have been carefully considered to ensure the RNLI makes the best possible use of its supporters’ donations,” it said.
Unite wins statutory trade union recognition
Earlier this year, trade union Unite started a legal process to be recognised formally as RNLI’s union at the ILC, after the charity rejected an earlier request.
In February, the union applied to the Central Arbitration Committee (CAC) to be recognised for collective bargaining for all permanent staff at the ILC, excluding senior managers and production managers.
After reviewing Unite’s application and RNLI’s response, the CAC said in March it was satisfied that the union had made a valid request to the charity.
Yesterday, a CAC spokesperson told Civil Society that the application was currently going through the statutory trade union recognition process.
Responding to RNLI’s plans to close the ILC, Unite’s general secretary Sharon Graham said: “It’s extremely disappointing that the RNLI is determined to close this vital base. Should this go ahead, it’ll have a devastating impact on our members and their families.
“Our members mustn’t be high and dry. The RNLI must work with Unite to save these vital jobs.”
Unite reported that although the RNLI intends to move its lifeboats production to Poole by the end of 2027, its members at the ILC say “they only have enough work to last them until February”.
“This is leaving them with a lot of uncertainty,” the union said.
Unite’s regional officer Jamie Major said: “Our immediate focus is to gain more clarity for our members and therefore we’re demanding an urgent meeting with management.
“Our members deserve honesty from their employer and the RNLI must also find more realistic options for its staff than relocating to an area they cannot afford.”
