McAlpine welcomes £250,000 support for Pinneys’ workforce

MSP Joan McAlpine has welcomed £250,000 of Scottish Government money to support Pinneys employees following Young’s decision to close the site in Annan.

The money will come from the Scottish Government’s South of Scotland Economic Partnership – the agency being established to boost the region’s economy – and is part of a wider £7.6 million investment in south Scotland by the partnership.

The Annan funding will help to mitigate the impact of job losses by supporting a team to drive forward the Annan Action Plan – which includes supporting workers with business advice and investing in capital projects.

The SNP MSP welcomed the announcement from Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing during his visit to Annan today (Thursday).

Ms McAlpine – who has campaigned to save Pinneys from closure – commented:

“The Scottish Government has carefully considered how to provide the most effective support to the workforce after Young’s confirmed that it is abandoning the people of Annan – and I am delighted to welcome today’s announcement. 

“This funding will help workers who want to move into alternative employment to do so quickly. I am very pleased that some of the workforce workers have already found posts elsewhere, and the direct support available to those who have yet to secure employment will increase as a result of this announcement.”

The funding for the action group comes as part of a wider £7.6 million package from the south of Scotland Economic partnership which will see a huge investment in Dumfries and Galloway College – as well as money for sustainable community projects in Stranraer, Eskadale, Kirkcudbright and Kirckonnel & Kelloholm.

 

Ms McAlpine added:

 

“The Scottish Government’s Economic Partnership – a prelude to an enterprise agency for the south of Scotland – will build the resilience of the economy in the region by supporting businesses of all sizes to develop, and investing in training opportunities for people living here.

 

“Today Mr Ewing announced that Dumfries and Galloway College would share over £6 million with Borders College to expand training places in care, renewables, engineering and construction.

 

“Funding will also go into a ‘strengthening communities programme’ which will assist income generating activity for each community by helping them to identify their needs, and project plan.

 

“investments like these will increase job opportunities and bring long term social and economic benefits to the area which will help ensure that private companies like Young’s can never inflict disaster of this scale on communities in the region again.”

Project Applicant Project aims Funding amount Annan Regeneration Dumfries and Galloway Council To support the cost of a team to drive forward the Annan Action Plan developing projects to mitigate the impact of job losses in the town following Young’s closure of its Pinney’s seafood processing plants.  Team will be set up to cover business advice, planning, property, capital projects and community development.  £250,000 (over two years) Centre of Excellence in Textiles Scottish Borders Council This project seeks to address a business critical skills issue in the textiles sector by the provision of a training centre to deliver skills training to local textile companies.  £610,000 (over two years) South of Scotland Skills & Learning Network Borders College and Dumfries and Galloway College Hub and spoke model to provide new facilities across the South of Scotland that will facilitate digital learning in rural locations.  Initial focus on training in care, renewable energy  and engineering and construction. Involves construction of physical and digital centres and hub and spoke infrastructure.  £ 6,601,919 (over two years) Strengthening Communities Programme Highlands and Islands Enterprise Match funding for seven sustainable communities projects in Peebles, Newlands, Tweedsmuir, Stranraer, Eskdale, Kirkcudbright and Kirckonnel & Kelloholm. Funding will primarily support project officer posts to assist with the delivery of asset based income generating activity for each community.  Officers will support communities to identify their needs/opportunities, agree actions, and project plan to deliver. £220,710 (over two years)