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Three dozen face axe at HWP

Sign of the times: Up to 30 employees face job losses at HWP though new company Auto Solutions, which bought HWP's auto division, is interviewing. ( Photo by Glenn Tucker )

Around 30 HWP employees face the loss of their jobs next month as a result of the company's plan to sell the assets of its auto division to new company Auto Solutions.But HWP staff in the Auto division are being assisted with applying for jobs with the new company as it looks to hire, stressed HWP’s Don Mackenzie.“We are making every effort to assist with HWP staff finding new jobs,” he said. “This includes cooperating with Auto Solutions as they are looking to hire new employees.”Auto Solutions managing director Glen Smith, an OBA MP, said: "Auto Solutions Limited, with the help of its HR consultants, Expertise Limited, is currently in the process of identifying and interviewing potential eligible candidates to staff our operations; some of which include current HWP employees.”Mr Mackenzie said that consistent with HWP’s press release of February 12: "Auto Solutions Limited is acquiring only the assets of the HWP Auto Division."He continued: "HWP has met with staff informing them of the transaction, providing confirmation of the closure of the HWP Automotive division on or around May 1, 2013. Formal notices are being provided in a timely manner."It is the desire of HWP directors and management that our employees are successful in finding new employment. This includes providing assistance to any prospective employer (including Auto Solutions) in having access to any HWP employees that a new employer would wish to interview."It is also the objective of HWP to ensure that the valued clients of HWP have no interruption of service and, to this end, we coordinating with Auto Solutions to ensure there is little or no interruption of service to our customer base as Auto Solution prepares to commence its operations."Auto Solutions is to acquire the assets of HWP’s auto division and to provide sales, after sales and parts support for HWP’s existing customers. The new company will continue to represent HWP’s current auto lines, which include Hyundai, Mitsubishi, Honda, Suzuki, Daihatsu, Subaru, Nissan, Volkswagen, Mazda and Skoda.At the time of the announcement, Jonathan Brewin, president and CEO of the HWP Group, said: “Our objective is twofold: to ensure that many of our valued employees are hired by the new company and that our clients enjoy a seamless service transition to Auto Solutions.”At least 27 jobs were cut last year at HWP amid a downturn in sales in the struggling economy, and a massive fire a year earlier.The non-automotive operations of HWP Group, including the Rubis service stations on East Broadway and St John’s Road will continue to operate under current ownership.