THURROCK MP Jen Craft has offered her sympathy to borough workers who lost their jobs following the collapse and subsequent sale of the Carpetright group, whose company HQ is in Purfleet.

The company's demise became public this week, with the loss of more than a thousand jobs across the country - many of them in Thurrock, where both the HQ and the Lakeside store will be closed.

Ms Craft, the Labour MP elected earlier this month, found one of her first jobs is to offer to support to those who have lost their jobs.

She told Thurrock Nub News: "I've spoken to the administrators and will be writing to them and Carpetright separately - myself and my team have had spoken with JobCentre Plus and Department for Work and Pensions who will be issuing rapid redundancy packs, with information about what employees who are being made redundant can do.

"They have also offered, if the demand is there, to put on a virtual presentation to allow workers to ask questions directly to officials. Information can be found here.

"I also understand that the owners of Carpetright have teamed up with a recruitment company to help people find new jobs.

The Carpetright HQ at Purfleet where 300 jobs will be lost.

"I have been liaising with the Essex Chamber of Commerce and local employers about vacancies locally and will continue to do so to see what opportunities are available.

"I have spoken to Cllr John Kent, the leader of Thurrock Council, and they will be working with JobCentre Plus as well, to offer assistance and are having similar discussions with local employers.

"I will be taking the matter up with the Work and Pensions Secretary and raising the issue of redundancies and the impact of the cost of living crisis on my constituents more widely.

"If there is anything more that I can do to help constituents, please get in touch via email on jen.craft.mp@parliament.uk.

"This is a really distressing time for employees and I will do all I can to ensure everyone is able to find new employment as quickly as possible."

Speaking at Thurrock Council's full meeting on Wednesday (24 July), Cllr Kent said: "Members will have seen the news that Carpetright has entered administration on Monday, with Price Waterhouse Cooper appointed as administrators.

"Although 50 stores across the country have been saved and sold to the Tapi group, sadly their previous head office at Purfleet has not been saved and as a result it's likely that we will see over 300 people there lose their jobs. 

"We know that every job loss is a personal tragedy.

"I have spoken today to our new member of parliament Jen Craft and she will be raising this with the secretary of state for business and trade as a matter of urgency to garner his support for those workers who will be affected.

"In addition the Department of Work and Pensions and JobCentre Plus have commited to putting together a rapid package of redundancy support and the council will stand ready to work with all agencies to do whatever we can to offer help with skills and training and other help to aid those affected to find new employment."