This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Simclar job losses
05/02/2007
Deputy Enterprise Minister Allan Wilson is to ask 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 a series of meetings with the administrator, unions and local MSPs and MPs in Irvine today, Mr Wilson said:
"There are a number of unanswered questions surrounding this company which require investigation and we owe it to the workforce to get to the bottom of them.
"The closure announcement by Simclar was devastating news for the families directly affected and also for the wider Ayrshire economy.
"It was important given the scale of redundancies involved to get the multi-agency Rapid Reaction Team up and running as soon as possible to provide advice, support and assistance to those affected to find them alternative employment or retraining opportunities 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."
He added:
"I am determined to ensure that all the relevant agencies continue to offer the same levels of support and assistance that is available elsewhere to workers in these difficult times.
"As soon as the announcement was made, full and immediate support swung into operation through the well-established PACE (Partnership Action for Continuing Employment) framework. This partnership is offering a wide range of support, advice and assistance to those Simclar employees made redundant and not quickly finding alternative employment. Whatever action is needed will be taken, whatever resources are required will be available. I was pleased to get the opportunity to provide that reassurance to union representatives and local elected representatives today.
"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. Now up and running, thanks to start-up funding from the Executive, we are committed to providing further funding to build on regeneration activity on the ground."