The Demise of Parker Pen UK

It was a sad day to read that the Newhaven plant down in East Sussex is to close. The plant has been in Parker's hands since 1941.

The plant actually started back in 1921 when Felix Macauley Ltd and the Gold Nibs Ltd opened a fountain pen company in the then disused army huts. In 1922 Valentine & Sons, who published and printed calenders, Christmas cards and postcards, entered the pen business by joining with Whywarth Pens Ltd.  By 1929 Valentines had bought out the assets of Felix Macauley Ltd and the Gold Nibs Ltd to create the Valentine Pen Co Ltd.

( Stories below have been taken from the BBC NEWS website )

Date: Thursday, 16 July 2009

Pen factory closure plan revealed

Plans to close the Parker Pen factory in East Sussex, resulting in the loss of up to 180 jobs, have been revealed. Newell Rubbermaid said it had started a consultation on the closure of the site in Newhaven following a review of its fine writing business. Local Norman Baker MP said it would be a "bitter blow" for the town and urged the firm to reconsider its decision. If the proposal goes ahead the factory, which has been open since the 1940s, will shut by the autumn of 2010. Newell Rubbermaid said work that was carried out in Newhaven would be shifted to its site in Nantes, France.

'Terrible day'

The firm said its Fradley Park site in Lichfield, Staffordshire, would remain open and it expected to continue to employ about 350 people in the UK. Mr Baker, who is MP for Newhaven, said: "This is a terrible day for Newhaven, and particularly of course for the employees of Parker Pen and their families. "I am writing to the management of the company to ask them urgently to reconsider their decision but, to be honest, I don't hold out much hope. "I will also be writing to the government, asking them to ensure a package of support is now provided for Newhaven." He added: "Parker Pen has for many years been the flagship employer in Newhaven, and this is a bitter blow for the town which is already much worse hit by the recession than other towns nearby. It is also the end of an era."

'Staff support'

Andy Smith, director of manufacturing at Parker Pen, said: "This proposal has been a difficult one to make and we realise the potential impact on our employees, their families and the local community. "We wanted to tell our employees about this now, nearly a year in advance, so that we can fully consult on the proposals and if necessary they can make the transition to new employment." He added: "I want to reassure all our employees that during the forthcoming period the company will ensure that they will be treated with the utmost respect. "Should the proposals be confirmed, staff will receive terms that generally exceed statutory requirements, plus access to support including an outplacement program to assist in identifying alternative employment."

Date: Tuesday, 23 September 2008

Pen company celebrates 120th year

Two hundred workers have marked the 120th anniversary of Sussex-based Parker Pens by burying a time capsule. Geoffrey Parker, the great-grandson of the company's founder, also planted an oak tree outside the firm's factory. The company's roots are in America, but it has had an operation in Newhaven since the 1940s. Mr Parker said his great-grandfather "felt it was very simple to succeed in business - make a better product and people will buy it". Collectors' items Employee Peter Easton, said the company had "always been a family-orientated business". He said the factory had seen "lots of generations of families" working there, and that people had connections with the firm "all around the area". The company also keeps pens that have become collectors' items. Heritage director David Ruderman said an Aztec pen had sold in the past decade for more than £50,000. He said: "I consider myself very lucky to be the guardian of all these goodies."

Date: Friday,30 November 2007

Pen maker announces 200 job cuts

Nearly half the workforce at a Parker Pen manufacturing facility in East Sussex could lose their jobs. The pen maker said it would continue production at its Newhaven site, but was working towards "investing more in branding and product innovation". The shedding of 200 jobs is now subject to a formal 90-day consultation period. Local MP Norman Baker was visiting the plant on Friday. He said the news was "a major disappointment", but he wanted to help find "a positive way forward".

'Prestigious employer'

Mr Baker was due to meet Jim Haggerty, a Parker Pen Company director, who said the downsizing at Newhaven had been a "difficult proposal to make". "It is no reflection on the highly-valued work performed by our employees," Mr Haggerty added. "I would like to assure all affected employees that they will be treated with the utmost respect at all stages of the process." And he said that anyone made redundant would be offered support in finding a new job. Mr Baker commented: "Parker Pen is the most prestigious employer in Newhaven and a cornerstone of the town. "I can only hope that any job losses do not have an adverse effect on the wider economy." Parker Pen currently employs about 420 people in Newhaven.