MSD confirms the future of its Hoddesdon plant

Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD) has confirmed the future of its UK headquarters in Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire and around 400 jobs existing at the site.

Last week the company, a subsidiary of US parent Merck & Co, detailed the loss of 330 jobs in the UK as part of a worldwide restructuring plan involving the termination of 7,000 positions and the closure of 31 production plants.

The company’s neuroscience research centre in Harlow, Essex will close with the loss of 270 jobs as will the chemical plant at Ponders End in Enfield with the loss of 60 jobs.

However, the future of the Hoddesdon plant has been assured with the announcement that it would be turned in to a “global centre of excellence”, reports the Hoddesdon and Broxbourne Mercury.

MSD managing director, Vincent Lawton, told the paper: “The recent investment to establish a new global centre of excellence in chemistry at Hoddesdon, to serve the needs of Merck’s organics and synthetic chemistry organisation, will be completed in spring 2006.”

“The new science centre at Hoddesdon is confirmed as a strategic site within the Merck global network.”

Though the future of the plant is assured, around 40 employees would lose their jobs at the site, the paper reports.

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