Highworth reacts to questions over Honda and TS Tech

One of the town’s largest employers, TS Tech, stands to be hard hit by the 2021 closure of the South Marston plant. The firm employs more than 740 people and made £9m profit last year..

The Advertiser understands staff are yet to be told what the firm, which is headquartered in Japan, plans to do with the Highworth factory. In its most recent set of accounts, published in December, the company said all the seats made in Wiltshire were sold to Honda. The Japanese car giant owns 20 per cent of TS Tech’s parent company.

Yesterday, Highworth shoppers and business owners said the closure of Honda and the impact on other firms could have a significant effect on the town. Paula Zi, 21, said: “It will cause chaos, but I think we will be okay on the High Street. Pretty much everyone in Swindon and Highworth knows someone who works at Honda, whether it’s friends or family.”

Martin Bannister, 49, said: “I think a lot of people think Honda and we’re forgetting a lot of other places like TS Tech. I’m hoping someone’s going to step up. There are a lot of jobs going in the area. I think it’s going to affect Highworth quite a bit in the same way it’s going to affect Swindon.”

Justine Ballamy, 49, added: “It’s terrible. It’s sad that people are going to lose their jobs.”

Zee Turner, 46, said: “It’s not just TS Tech. It’s other firms. There are people everywhere connected to Highworth.”

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Another woman, 84, who has lived in Highworth since 1960, added: “I think the loss of jobs is a great concern. The feeling generally is that it’s such a shame. We keep building housing, but when people come in – what have we got for them to do?”

TS Tech said it was still assessing the situation following Honda’s announcement. In its latest annual report it said it was trying to work with other car manufacturers in Europe to reduce the risk from supplying only to Honda.