North Yorkshire Council and the Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, David Skaith, have pledged support for those affected by job cuts at Anglo American’s Woodsmith fertiliser mine near Whitby.

Anglo American confirmed in June that around half of the jobs at its Woodsmith mine would be lost amid plans to slow down the project and cut costs.

Now the company has revealed the full-scale of the impact on the wider workforce with a spokesperson for Anglo American stating: “The Anglo American workforce has been reduced by half to 160 people.

“However, across all the contractors and subcontractors across the project, the workforce will reduce by approximately 60% to around 900 by mid-2025.

Anglo American has implemented a social response plan to support people affected by the production slowdown

placeholder image — Anglo American has implemented a social response plan to support people affected by the production slowdown

“We have implemented a social response plan to support people affected with training, re-training or business start-up opportunities in collaboration with our local employment support providers. This has been really well received.”

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service in June, Tom McCulley CEO said: “We are slowing down the development of Woodsmith in a way that allows us to accelerate again as soon as we can.”

The operation of the mine is understood to cost more than £2m a day.

North Yorkshire Council’s corporate director of community development, Nic Harne,

said: “The future of the Anglo American Woodsmith mine project is understandably of concern to the hundreds of staff and associated businesses that depend on the long-term viability of the site.

“The mine is a major regional employer and as a key partner we are committed to

providing ongoing support to the business over the next few years through slowdown and the anticipated ramping up of activity in due course.

“We will be working closely with the Mayor and our colleagues at the York and North

Yorkshire Combined Authority to ensure affected employees are connected to

opportunities for re-employment, skills training and small-business support.”

David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, said: “Myself and the Combined Authority remain committed to ensuring every affected employee at the Woodsmith Project is connected to opportunities for reemployment, skills training and small-business support.

“I’d like to reassure those affected workers that we are listening to you and working with a range of partners, including North Yorkshire Council, to ensure you have access to the full range of available support services.

“We continue to work closely with Anglo American in navigating this challenging period and support the company’s long-term commitment to polyhalite fertiliser extraction in our region”.