THE owners of a Valleys company where 150 jobs are under threat have refused to confirm reports that workers were given redundancy notices yesterday.

The Argus reported last month how the marketing and events company, Freeman UK, was in the midst of a 45-day consultation with Cwmcarn staff, over moving to the company’s new main UK site in Coventry, or facing redundancy.

It is understood that workers who choose redundancy will have until July or December at the plant until they have to leave, in line with the planned closure of the site.

The Argus contacted Freeman UK’s head office but was told no one could answer queries until today.

Last month an employee, who did not wish to give their name, accused the company – said to be the largest in the UK providing stage construction, for events from the Ryder Cup to Top Gear Live from its base at Chapel Farm Industrial Estate – of “letting down employees”.

At the time, the company said it could not confirm anything, with the consultation not due to end until the end of April, but confirmed that consultation covered “all possibilities” including redeployment and redundancies.

The business was formerly said to have been known as Stanco Exhibitions and it was based in Newport for more than 40 years.

They were then taken over by So Group UK, before being purchased by US-based Freeman.

The company has 4,800 full-time and 30,000 part-time employees.

It also carries out 4,300 exhibitions and 11,000 corporate events every year.