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The Simclar
workers and their families have suffered a traumatic few weeks, and we must
do all we can to try and make their future a brighter one.
Ayrshire is one of the Executive's regional
regeneration priority areas and we are committed to investing in key
regeneration projects across the region to deliver sustained economic
growth.
Scottish Executive
Minister Allan Wilson met a delegation of sacked Simclar workers at the
Scottish Parliament today to update them on the support measures being put
in place in the wake of the recent job-loss announcement in Ayrshire.
He spoke to former shop stewards and trade union representatives from
Community before meeting protestors outside the Parliament.
Mr Wilson confirmed to the workers that he had asked the Department for
Trade and Industry (DTI) to investigate the circumstances surrounding the
closure of Simclar Ayrshire and the events preceding its insolvency
including the transfer of assets and contracts.
Speaking after the meeting, Mr Wilson said:
"The Simclar workers and their families have suffered a traumatic few weeks,
and we must do all we can to try and make their future a brighter one. I was
struck once more by the compelling case the former employees made for an
investigation into this tragedy and to ensure steps are taken to prevent
future tragedies of this nature.
"The well-established PACE (Partnership Action for Continuing Employment)
programme is now up-and-running in Ayrshire to provide the full range of
support, advice and assistance to the Simclar workers who lost their jobs.
The various agencies involved are putting considerable efforts into ensuring
that the affected staff can engage fully with the range of services and
support being offered.
"As well as the usual wide-range of services provided by PACE, the Ayrshire
PACE team are arranging two meetings - in Saltcoats and Irvine - which will
give affected staff the chance to meet PACE partners, training providers,
local FE colleges and a range of potential employers. A 'jobshop', which
will compliment the existing Jobcentre Plus service, is to be created in
Saltcoats where I understand two-thirds of the redundant workers live.
"I also told the staff I met today that there remain a number of unanswered
questions surrounding this company which require investigation and that that
we owe it to them to get to the bottom of these questions.
“Given the scale of the redundancies, it has been a priority to get the
multi-agency Rapid Reaction PACE Team up and running as soon as possible to
provide advice, support and assistance to those affected and ensure the
redundant workers get any monies they are entitled to. I have made it clear
that substantial funding, running to millions of pounds, will be available
to assist with this work and the area's economic regeneration more
generally. In short, whatever PACE response is required, the resources will
be provided.
"Ayrshire is one of the Executive's regional regeneration priority areas and
we are committed to investing in key regeneration projects across the region
to deliver sustained economic growth. The Irvine Bay Urban Regeneration
Company (URC) is driving forward the transformation of the Irvine Bay area,
providing a much-needed boost to the local economy, and tackling the legacy
of unemployment, deprivation and depopulation.
"I will be in Ayrshire tomorrow (Friday) with the Deputy Communities
Minister Des McNulty to announce multi-million pound Executive funding to
support regeneration and build affordable housing in the area. This will
include details of a new Irvine Bay URC project to rejuvenate and stimulate
growth in Ardrossan town centre."
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