Firms hiring Remploy staff set to get £5,000

Employers are being offered £5,000 to take on disabled staff who have lost their jobs with the closure of Remploy factories.

The Scottish Government incentive was made in response to redundancies caused by the UK government’s decision to withdraw funds from the so-called sheltered business.

Enterprise minister Fergus Ewing, who announced the new fund to MSPs at Holyrood, said: 
“I have been extremely concerned about the closure of Remploy factories across Scotland since the Department for Work and Pensions announced the beginning of the process this summer.

“Since then I have visited all of the affected sites in Scotland and have heard from hard-working and loyal staff being forced out of jobs that they have held for years.

“The Scottish Government’s first objective is to try to secure the jobs of those Remploy workers still employed by the company.

“We are making efforts to make sure that any organisation interested in the current business is supported appropriately through our enterprise bodies.

“However, very few of those made redundant so far have found new employment and that is why we are offering this further assistance.”

Earlier this month, Remploy announced that the last disabled workers at its factories in Scotland were being put at risk of losing their job.

The announcement affected all 172 people, including 152 disabled employees, at the five remaining factories.

Motherwell, Aberdeen and Edinburgh sites have already closed, and Springburn in Glasgow is due to be shut.

The remaining textiles sites in Dundee, Stirling and Clydebank are proposed for closure, with all staff at risk of redundancy.

Leven and Cowdenbeath in Fife were also put at risk despite having an “established market position” that might attract commercial interest.