Cardiff Council Leader's statement following Tesco UK announcement

The Leader of Cardiff Council, Cllr Huw Thomas, has confirmed that the Council will be calling for an urgent meeting with Tesco UK's CEO Matt Davies in order to discover the company's reasons for its decision and to offer support to affected staff.

Cllr Thomas said: "Cardiff's economy is showing real signs of growth. The latest figures reveal  that there has been a 6% increase in employment, faster than any other UK Core City. There has also been a 30% fall in the number of people unemployed in the city.

"Tesco is a strategic company in Wales and given the current economic climate in Cardiff, this decision is both surprising and disappointing.

"We need to understand the reasons why this decision has been taken and the redundancy package that is being offered to those affected.

"Tesco has a highly-skilled workforce, so we need to work with the Welsh Government, Job Centre Plus and training providers like Cardiff & Vale College to give all the support we can, and to see if we can match skills to both current businesses and companies that are choosing to invest in the Welsh Capital.

"Cardiff has recently been announced as the third-best office location in the UK and, with levels of investment rising, our city is an increasingly attractive place to do business.  We will do everything within our powers and remit to find the best possible solution for those affected by this decision."