Scheme to give workers priority for new jobs.
Grangemouth workers made redundant following the refinery closure
will be prioritised for roles created through the Scottish
Government's £25 million Grangemouth Just Transition Fund, thanks
to a new clause in grant funding awarded.
In partnership with Unite the Union, the Grangemouth Jobs
Prioritisation Scheme will ensure that all Scottish Enterprise
grant awards from the Fund to businesses will give priority to
eligible Grangemouth workers during recruitment. Crucially, it
will be conditional for any business receiving investment through
the Grangemouth Just Transition Fund to participate in this
scheme.
Scottish Enterprise has been working with businesses and the
Scottish and UK Governments to secure new investment at
Grangemouth. The First Minister has committed £25 million to
establish the Grangemouth Just Transition Fund to support
businesses to bring forward new propositions to secure
Grangemouth's future.
First Minister said:
“Supporting the just transition to a low carbon economy is one of
our highest priorities for government, but we understand the risk
this transition brings to businesses and skilled workers in the
oil and gas sector.
“We're taking meaningful steps to ensure that our workers and
communities are not left behind in the journey to net zero and
that fairness and equality are at the heart of our actions. The
Grangemouth Jobs Prioritisation Scheme - developed in partnership
with Unite – is a concrete example of this, helping workers
secure new opportunities and ensuring that their vital
experience, skills and knowledge are not lost to Grangemouth and
to Scotland. This is a just transition in action.
“By ensuring workers who were made redundant following the
cessation of refining at Grangemouth are prioritised for these
new jobs, we are making sure that public funds directly support
people and livelihoods – rightly bringing the workforce with us
as we move towards the clean energies of the future.”
Susan Fitzgerald, Unite Secretary, said:
"Unite has fought every day for the replacement of the
highly-skilled jobs lost as a result of the Grangemouth oil
refinery closing. We continue to demand concrete action for
workers during the energy transition, and that far more needs to
be done to support new jobs in greener industries."
"The Grangemouth pilot scheme will apply conditionalities to
companies in receipt of public sector funding, which will include
a job interview guarantee for eligible workers. We understand
this approach is a first across the UK. The scheme has involved
the active participation of our Grangemouth members and it is one
which Unite welcomes.
"It is now time to deliver with urgency the promised new jobs and
investment for the workers and people of Grangemouth if we are to
achieve any resemblance of a genuine Just Transition."
