Jobs at risk at Alexander Dennis

400 jobs are at risk at Forth Valley bus manufacturer Alexander Dennis.

The vehicle maker is looking to move all of its UK production to a single site at Scarborough in North Yorkshire to cut costs.

This would mean its premises in Falkirk would close.

Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said:

“This will be a hugely worrying time for the workforce at Alexander Dennis, their families and the wider community.

“In recent weeks, the Scottish Government has engaged extensively with Alexander Dennis and its parent company NFI to understand the issues and ensure that every possible avenue is explored to mitigate the need for redundancies. This has included discussions with myself, the First Minister, leadership within Scottish Enterprise and Transport Scotland and the UK Government.

“The Scottish Government will continue to explore any and all options throughout the consultation period to allow the firm to retain their hard-working employees and manufacturing and production facilities at Falkirk and Larbert. In the event of any job losses, the Scottish Government will provide support through our Partnership Action for Continuing Employment initiative.”

Cllr Cecil Meiklejohn, Leader of Falkirk Council said:

“On behalf of the Council I would like to say how devastated we are by this announcement from Alexander Dennis.

“Our immediate concern is with the valued workforce and their families who have been the bedrock of bus production in Scotland, and who will no doubt be distressed by this news.

“I have asked our officers to immediately engage with the Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE), led by Skills Development Scotland, to begin the process of supporting the employees with the range of practical advice, skills development, and training support available to them, at this difficult time.

“This announcement is another illustration that manufacturing in the UK is in crisis. High energy prices and carbon taxes are making our major industries uncompetitive with the rest of the world, and if something isn’t done by the UK Government in the near future then we will continue to see closures like this up and down the UK.

“Falkirk and Grangemouth remain outstanding locations for industrial activity due to the highly skilled local workforce and unrivalled transport and logistical infrastructure. What we need now is an economic environment that supports rather than hinders our local companies to grow and be successful.”