A HEALTH company responsible for the testing of shipyard staff has launched a period of consultation with its workers.

Staff working at Circular1 Health in Barrow could lose their jobs as the testing service company enters a period of consultation with employees, it has been announced.

The company has delivered an intense programme of coronavirus testing at BAE since summer 2020 in a bid to bring employees back into the workplace.

It also offers PCR and lateral flow tests for people wishing to travel abroad.

The testing company, born out of the Covid-19 crisis, has responded to critical businesses that needed to remain operational through the pandemic.

Workers were tested for the virus every seven days at the shipyard in a move bosses hoped would help protect the town from any spread of the virus.

Two years since their launch in Barrow, however, the Carlisle-based company may be cutting jobs at its lab, based at Waterfront Business Park.

One former Circular1 Health worker said ‘morale fell to the floor’ when staff were told about the consultation period.

The 40-year-old, who lives in Barrow, said: “We were shocked. In previous calls we were told about upscaling at the company and that jobs in Barrow were safe because they were investing in the area.

“So this was a complete shock – nobody expected it.

“Morale fell to the floor when we were told this news.

“I was lucky to find another job. It’s a vicious world at the moment to find employment.”

A spokesman for Circular1 Health said: “As Circular1 evolves from Covid testing into its proactive health and wellbeing service, we are looking at the workforce and skills requirements of the business over the coming months. We are in a period of consultation with employees in Barrow as part of this."