EIGHTEEN workers are to be made redundant at a sheet metal factory.

Bosses at Brighton Sheet Metal, at the Hyde Business Park in Bevendean, told 18 staff members they are no longer required as the company takes cost-cutting measures.

The business, which was established in Brighton in 1953, employs 85 staff on the shop floor and in offices, but 18 of those will be gone by next Friday, according to an employee.

The worker, who asked not to be named, said the experience the firm is losing would be difficult to replace.

He said: “It will be a big loss to the team.

"One of the people being made redundant has been here for years.

“All the people they are getting rid of are local people.”

The employee, who has worked for Brighton Sheet Metal for 11 years, said his bosses are getting rid of the staff who have been there the shortest amount of time.

Staff were left in limbo for a week before the unfortunate ones were given the news.

He said: “We all received a letter in the post last week telling us that they are making redundancies.

“Then on Tuesday the staff who were made redundant were given envelopes explaining it to them.”

The man said there used to be a family feeling while working for the company, but he said there is a feeling of upset at the loss of staff.

He said: “I’ve had enough. Some people are now saying they don’t care if they lose their jobs. Everyone is fed up with it.

“There is going to be a lot more work for everyone.”

Out of the 85 members of staff at Brighton Sheet Metal, 20 work in the office and the other 65 are shop floor assistants.

Seventeen shop floor workers are being made redundant along with one from the office, according to the employee.

He said it is sad to see the company losing trade, and he does not think it can go on like this much longer.

He said: “I think it is going to go under completely soon. It’s never been like this before.”

Brighton Sheet Metal claimed the redundancy proceedings are an annual procedure for them.

A spokeswoman said the company employs temporary summer workers, although she said the shortest-serving redundancy was 18 months.

Mark Williams, managing director of the firm, said: “It’s a normal series of events. In the summer we take people on to cover holidays.

“The redundancies are efficiency improvements.”

Mr Williams refused to confirm how many workers had been made redundant.