Oil giant steps in to save jobs of disabled factory staff

WORKERS made redundant at a factory for the blind and disabled could be back in their jobs within three months following the intervention of one of Scotland's leading oil service companies.

Hopes rose yesterday that a new social enterprise company will rise from the ashes of the former Glencraft factory in Aberdeen, after First Minister Alex Salmond announced a potential lifeline in the form of a business plan put forward by Aberdeen-based global energy company PSN.

The plan is to more than double the turnover of the factory within a year to 2 million by boosting production of beds and mattresses.

Bob Keiller, the chief executive of PSN, and Duncan Skinner, the company's chief financial officer, hope to reopen the factory by March and to offer new jobs to all 51 disabled and able-bodied workers who lost their jobs when Glencraft went into liquidation in November.

Aberdeen City Council has already pledged to waive the 300,000 in capital repayments and rents due for the factory to get the scheme off the ground.

PSN is also seeking a total of 380,000 in start-up funding from the Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise and is planning to raise 500,000 locally to establish a contingency fund.

The closure of the sheltered workshops in Wellington Road had ended a 156-year history of providing employment to the disabled and visually impaired in the city. Those made redundant included 34 blind and disabled workers.

Andrew Laing, the branch secretary of the Community Union, who had worked at Glencraft for 27 years, welcomed the move.

He said: "Obviously we are delighted that Alex Salmond kept his promise to me and the workforce that he would try and help to get us back into employment in some way or another.

"PSN took a bold decision to come here and help us, and I'm confident the workforce here will repay that faith by making this a sustainable business."

Mr Laing added: "We never lost hope and we are very excited about the new adventure ahead and look forward to turning the business around in 2010."

Announcing the possible rescue package, Mr Salmond stressed: "Nothing is final as yet, but there is a real chance that we will able to succeed in what has always been our aim of securing viable employment for the former employees of Glencraft. We go forward with hope and expectation."

He said: "The business can only have a future if it has a viable future.The business plan that has come forward gives us the possibility of establishing that."

Mr Keiller said: "We will inject stronger business principles through refreshed leadership, marketing expertise and fundraising support to ensure Glencraft once again becomes a successful and sustainable business. But this will only work if the business and wider community matches our commitment."

Councillor John Stewart, the leader of Aberdeen City Council, said: "I'm delighted that such a prominent and successful Aberdeen business has come forward with this offer to invest its expertise and I hope we will soon have a workable business plan to secure Glencraft on a sustainable basis."