FURNESS MP John Woodcock is convening a second meeting of key players to discuss a way forward for Ulverston’s GSK pharmaceutical plant.

Earlier this year, the company announced that it would be stepping back from its planned £350m biopharmaceutical investment, sending shockwaves across the county.

The Labour MP held talks with stakeholders in the Coronation Hall hours after the announcement was made and a follow-up summit will take place in the same venue on September 28, 2-4pm.

Mr Woodcock said: “I know people have been spending the summer exploring what they can do to help our community and potentially find a new buyer for the site.

“This will be an important opportunity for us to share thinking and make a concrete plan for the months ahead.

“There is so much talent and potential in the Ulverston workforce and I’m determined to do whatever we can to give those employees the strong future they deserve and keep these prized jobs here.”

The news came as part of a series of several announcements from the pharmaceutical giant, all of which it is said would ‘improve the efficiency and competitiveness of its manufacturing network’.

The company said in a statement that it is to undertake a strategic review of its cephalosporins antibiotics operations, with an option to sell the business including the associated manufacturing facilities.

These medicines are produced at GSK sites in Ulverston, Verona in Italy and part of its Barnard Castle site.

Speaking at the time Roger Connor, president of GSK Global Manufacturing and Supply, said that the business had a ‘substantial manufacturing presence in the UK’ and continued to support the network with new investment of more than £140 million in the next three years.

“At the same time, we have had to make some decisions which we know will cause uncertainty for some of our employees,” he said. “We will do all we can to support them through this process.”

The meeting will be attended by GSK management and staff, senior representatives of local authorities along with business leaders, councillors and trade union representatives.