UK Government backs first project at Grangemouth site to unlock hundreds of jobs and secure its industrial future
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Scottish biotech company MiAlgae backed with up
to £1.5 million to develop an innovative new
project on the Grangemouth site, using
byproducts from whisky distillation. Funding from UK
Government will help to support around 310 jobs over
the next five years and help catalyse further investment into
the site. Grangemouth Investment Taskforce is working
to identify more projects...Request free trial
Grangemouth Scottish company MiAlgae makes fish-free Omega 3 out of algae by repurposing whisky byproducts, with Grangemouth's position in the Central Belt providing an ideal location to source by-products from Scotland's distilleries. This environmentally friendly alternative to sourcing Omega 3 from fish oil is estimated to save 30 tonnes of fish for every tonne of algae produced. The first investment allocation from the Grangemouth Investment Taskforce will start creating new jobs on the site from next year, supporting around 310 jobs over the next five years and delivering an additional £53 million into the Scottish economy. As a condition of the grant funding, eligible Grangemouth workers will be given priority during recruitment, including a job interview guarantee. The funding aims to support the company's plans to construct its first commercial-scale manufacturing facility, accelerate production and support research and development. The grant funding will also help catalyse further investment into the site and demonstrate its long-term potential. UK Government Energy Minister Michael Shanks is expected to visit the site today (Thursday 11 December) as MiAlgae breaks ground on the new facility.
The funding forms part of the Chancellor's
announcement Securing the first investment is a landmark moment as the Grangemouth Investment Taskforce works at pace to unlock more opportunities to bring a bright future to Grangemouth, with around 140 enquiries already received. This includes working closely with several other projects, with further announcements expected in the near future. Energy Minister Michael Shanks said: "When we came into office there was no plan for Grangemouth. That's why we quickly took action to secure the site's long-term future, while supporting affected workers into new jobs.
“This project, alongside the £200 million of funding pledged from the National Wealth Fund, is part of our clear strategy for Grangemouth's industrial future. A strategy with workers, unions, businesses, and the wider community at its heart.” Douglas Martin, Founder and CEO of MiAlgae, said: “Breaking ground at Grangemouth marks an exciting new chapter for MiAlgae. Our mission has always been to make a meaningful impact, tackling overfishing, reducing waste, and creating sustainable value from industrial by-products. This new facility is a huge step towards delivering that mission at scale, bringing new, high-quality green jobs to the local area, and helping Scotland lead the way in this exciting new biotech industry.” Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander said: “This £1.5 million UK Government investment will support MiAlgae's innovative green technology and boost jobs and investment in Grangemouth. “The UK Government is backing Grangemouth's future with real investment and a clear plan. We promised to secure the site's long-term future and create good jobs, and that's exactly what we're doing – supporting new industries, creating opportunities, and ensuring this site remains a vital part of Scotland's industrial heartland for generations to come. “It is just one of many projects we are working to bring to the site. At the Budget the Chancellor announced £14.5 million for green industrial projects on the site.” Meanwhile, the UK and Scottish Governments' training guarantee, is continuing to support Grangemouth workers into new high-skilled jobs – already 296 workers have received one-to-support and 269 are currently taking part in or have completed training. The UK and Scottish governments also signed the £100 million Falkirk and Grangemouth Growth Deal in November 2024, to support the community by investing in local projects to create new opportunities for growth. ENDS Grangemouth training guarantee case studies David Clement, from Larbert was a Shift Supervisor and Operations Specialist with Petroineos. He was supported to enrol on Forth Valley College's ECITB Industrial UAS Operations: Foundation Training Course on industrial site drone flying. He said: “The course has been beneficial to me to supplement to the knowledge and experience I have of flying a drone and gave an insight of how to carry out safe and efficient practise while working on an industrial site. “The foundation course covers industrial operations in a general overview of drone flying, types, payloads and the procedures that need to be adhered to for flying a drone in an industrial environment. I would now like to look into more detail of the types of payloads used for different inspection methods on site and their effective application."
George Paton from Glasgow was a Shift I/E Technician at
Petroineos who He said: “I completed my PLC basics course in October and am looking forward to doing CompEx courses in February 2026. I believe that the training will help me move on to a new stage in my career as being armed with having these courses already booked has given me a good advantage in applying for my new role. “I am looking forward to doing the CompEx courses to bolster my CompEx qualification already achieved and am very happy with all the support I received. Thanks to all involved.” Notes to editors
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