UP TO 55 jobs could be at risk at a major Weymouth employer.

Ultra Electronics CEMS, one of the biggest employers on the Granby Industrial Estate, has said it is entering a consultation period which could see jobs lost.

CEMS, an operating business of Ultra Electronics Holdings Plc, is a contract electronics and microelectronic manufacturing business.

Despite winning a contract worth £27m earlier this year and saying it would create jobs, a loss of contracts has led to the decision.

In a statement to the Echo, the company said: “Over the last few years, Ultra Electronics has considerably increased the workforce at our CEMS business based in Weymouth.

“As a result of some key contracts coming to a natural end and a reduction in expected order book we regret that we are currently entering a consultation period that may result in up to 55 roles being put at risk in Weymouth.”

The redundancies could occur as early as the end of this month.

The statement continued: “We will be consulting extensively with our employees over the coming weeks with earliest terminations due to redundancy effective towards the end of March. "Volunteers are being considered.

“While it is always a difficult and unfortunate event for those potentially at risk, it is against a background of on-going investment in the Ultra businesses in Weymouth.”

The company announced last month that it had won a £27 million 10-year Royal Navy contract and 40 jobs would be created at their sites at Weymouth and Middlesex.

It said it would aim to split the roles 50/50 between the two sites. At the time, managing director Ross Parnell said if 'suitable people' were found in the Weymouth area, the number of jobs created could go up to 30.

Ultra Electronics is a group of businesses which manages a portfolio of specialist capabilities, generating highly-differentiated solutions and products in the defence and aerospace, security and cyber, transport and energy markets.