This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Education Inspectors to relocate
07/11/2003
The headquarters of Her Majesty's Inspectorate of
Education (HMIE) will move fromEdinburghtoLivingstonin 2004.
New offices are also to be opened in Dunbartonshire
and Ayrshire, and HMIE'sDundeeoffice will be relocated to larger premises in the
city. HMIE will continue to have staff based in its
existing offices in
Aberdeen,GlasgowandInverness.
The relocation will further improve the education
inspection system and transfer approximately 100 jobs
to areas of deprivation or recent job losses.
Education Minister Peter Peacock
said:
"HMIE plays a vital role in our education
improvement agenda and it is important that inspectors
are as close as possible to the schools, colleges and
education authorities they inspect. This move will
allow the inspectorate to further modernise its service
and meet the challenging targets set by
Ministers.
"The new offices being set up inLivingston, Dunbartonshire and Ayrshire will transfer
approximately 100 much-needed jobs to these areas.
Many staff will remain in their jobs with HMIE to work from
the new offices.
However, there will also be a number of job
opportunities for local people as it is anticipated that
some existing members of staff may choose not to remain
with HMIE after the relocation.
"Those who choose not to stay with HMIE will not
face redundancy - they will be eligible for other posts
in the Scottish Executive."
"This is an excellent relocation initiative which
meets our objectives of organisational efficiency and
jobs dispersal."
Graham Donaldson, head of HMIE, said:
"I very much welcome the decision on the location
of new HMIE offices announced today. It provides
further support for our work in improving Scottish
education by ensuring that our staff have suitable
bases in key locations throughout the country. Our task
now is to introduce the new arrangements as smoothly
and sensitively as possible."
HMIE employs 178 staff in offices inEdinburgh(headquarters in SaughtonHouse, and also in Victoria Quay),Aberdeen,Inverness,GlasgowandDundee. At least 60 posts will be relocated toLivingston.
The currentEdinburghheadquarters will be relocated to new premises
inLivingston. A number of staff will remain inEdinburghto support local inspections, based only in Saughton
House.
The offices inAberdeen,Inverness,GlasgowandDundeewill remain,though theDundeeoffice will be expanded and relocated to another part
of the city.
New offices will be opened in Dunbartonshire and
Ayrshire.
All HMIE staff will have individual discussions with
their line managerabout the future location of their posts. The
intention is to match as many as possible to offices which
are convenient in terms of travel to and from their home.
Staff whose posts are moved to a different office may
be eligible fortravelling expenses or support for moving
home.
HMIE hopes that this process of new supported travel
arrangements andhouse moves for existing staff, together with new
local recruitment, will be sufficient to staff the new
offices.
Those members of current staff who choose not to stay
with HMIE will beeligible for other posts in the Executive.