Rolls-Royce set to close Scots plant

Rolls-Royce is planning to close one of its plants and move operations to another facility, the company said last night.

About 600 workers, who service aero engines and components at the East Kilbride site, will have their jobs relocated to the Inchinnan plant, about 16 miles away.

Rolls-Royce said the move will be completed by 2015 and will see Inchinnan, near Glasgow airport, become one of the company’s largest facilities in the UK.

It said the facilities at East Kilbride, built in the 1950s, were “reaching the end of their usable life”.

Linda Fabiani, the SNP’s MSP for East Kilbride, said: “This is a blow to East Kilbride, which has a proud record of skilled work with Rolls-Royce.

“It’s the expertise of the East Kilbride workforce which help­ed to secure major work for Scotland in recent times.”

Alex McMillan, managing director for Rolls-Royce at East Kilbride, said: “This is a positive development for our employees and helps to safeguard jobs. Transferring our operations from East Kilbride will enable us to maximise efficiency at the nearby Inchinnan facility, helping us to become even more competitive.”