DOZENS of jobs are at risk at one of the country’s largest fire training centres due to uncertainty over its future at Teesside Airport.
Up to 80 workers at the International Fire Training Centre (IFTC) could lose their jobs in the coming months as an agreement is yet to be reached between the airport and the facility, owned by outsourcing company Serco, over its long-term future.
Airport bosses have asked the centre to relocate from its current site as it interferes with plans to build a new £200m business park on land to the southside of the airport.
The Northern Echo understands staff have been told the lease on the current site will not be renewed, meaning it could close by December 2022 or early 2023.
Teesside Airport bosses have been locked in negotiations with the IFTC for several years to renew the lease but have been unable to reach an agreement, with staff now fearing the facility could close.
But last night, Serco said a final decision had not been made and they were "exploring" whether they could remain at the airport.
Read more: New plans revealed for Teesside Airport business park
The new £200million plans for a business park at the airport were unveiled last week and are to be built near the existing facility.
The proposal, which will see the new facility open on the southside of Teesside Airport, could create up to 4,400 jobs.
Construction on the scheme involves building new road infrastructure to cope with increased traffic around the facility.
The IFTC has trained firefighters for more than 40 years from over 70 countries, providing a variety of courses for fire and rescue services.
One person with insight into the potential closure, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “Staff had just been informed that January was the most profitable in history and the order books were looking very positive going forward.
“Then a few days later they were informed of the devastating closure.
“IFTC has been a major contributor to the airport and surrounding businesses for over 40 years and the repercussions from its closure will be felt in the aviation, offshore and industrial fire and safety Industries around the world.
“It is a worrying fact that when IFTC closes there will be no other training establishment in the UK that can provide the same facilities.”
Read more: Teesside Airport optimistic over more flights in the future
Gary Watson, Serco operations manager at the International Fire Training Centre, said: “Serco has been informed by our landlord, Teesside International Airport, that they intend to develop commercial properties on the site that we currently use to deliver the practical elements of our fire training courses.
“Their plan would mean that we would have to leave that area of the airport around the end of 2022 or early 2023.
“We are discussing the implications of this with the airport and exploring whether we could continue to run our services using a different location on the airport.
“In the meantime, we are continuing to provide world-class fire training to firefighters from all around the globe.”
Responding to the fears, Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen, said: “The airport team have been in discussions with Serco for nearly two years trying to find a way to keep this business at the airport and we have always been happy to provide a new lease.
"Not only are we happy for them to have a new lease we have even offered to cover the costs to relocate them to a more suitable part of the site at the airport but sadly, their stance has been that it is not a core business for their owners.
“I would urge bosses to reconsider this decision."
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