Sad news now, as a story’s come through to us from Bloomberg. Nokia, the Finnish mobile phone giant have decided to shut down production in their handset factory in Bochum, Germany, resulting in the loss of 2,300 jobs.
Basically, despite having a very good year, being very competitive, and increasing in market share, profit and every business indicator (thanks in no small part, we’re sure, to the N95Â and the massive, massive sales of the 6300), Nokia want to make very sure they don’t suddenly stop being competitive. Which is a shame, and my heart goes out to the workers who are going to be affected by this.
But, I have to be pragmatic in this situation. If it increases Nokia’s competitiveness, and ensures they keep cranking out awesome quality phones, then despite the job losses, it’s a good move.
And given that Nokia state they want to move production within Europe, there’s a good chance a lot of those extra job vacancies will end up in the UK, and provide jobs for us in the UK. I can’t ignore that, I’m afraid.
So, as much as I sympathise with the workers who will be affected by this (and having been in the same boat as them before I started working here, I know how they feel), if it potentially brings more jobs into the UK, I can’t, in all good conscience say I entirely disapprove…