Struggling business plans to import foreign staff

James Hemingway, who bought the Willowbeck Mushroom Farm three months ago, is planning to import a labour force through an employment agency in Manchester.

"We are struggling," he told the Herald.

He said the farm's workforce was dwindling, with only four full-time employees.

The farm produced around 160 tonnes of mushrooms during the past year's business, but the new management is eager to double that.

The mushrooms, which literally grow overnight in four polytunnels, are sold to supermarket chains through a wholesaler in Trawden.

"We've been talking to Booths in Settle about supplying mushrooms directly to the supermarket," added Mr Hemingway.

He told the Herald he had advertised for local employees, but struggled to get any response.

"If we could find the staff locally we'd rather do that," he said.

"We could be a major employer in the Settle area. You'd think there'd be enough folk looking for work in this country."

Shard Recruitment in Keighley confirmed that they had been approached by the business, but were unable to find employees in the area.

A similar farm near Lancaster has employed a workforce of Iranian refugees.

"One mushroom farm over Preston way only employs Philippinos," added farm manager Tim Person. "I don't know why, but they are very good at the job.

"It sounds like an easy job but you need delicate fingers to avoid bruising the mushrooms.

"It's not cheap labour, they'll be getting paid the same amount as the staff at the moment do - about a fiver an hour," said Mr Person.

The hours are also unusual, which goes some way to explaining the problems in finding workers.

The farm, which already has several static caravans on the site, is now considering applying for planning permission and licenses for employee accommodation.

Employers must apply for work permits from the Home Office in order to employ immigrants, but the mushroom farm has yet to apply for such a permit.