WORKERS at the Grangemouth Refinery facing redundancy will have access to a new bespoke skills and training package aimed at helping them find new jobs in the area.
The initiative comes as both the UK and Scottish governments look to step up plans to support workers, with Forth Valley College receiving funding via the £100 million Falkirk and Grangemouth growth deal to deliver bespoke support for workers affected by the decision to decommission the oil refinery.
Forth Valley College will shortly begin contacting workers to start building a skills and support package to meet their individual needs – mapping their current skills and qualifications to the future skills needed for local clean energy roles in the area and analysing where the gaps are.
The UK and Scottish governments will use the findings to deliver targeted interventions to upskill the local workforce ahead of redundancies next year, both said.
UK Government energy secretary, Ed Miliband, said, “We continue to stand with Grangemouth workers and we are putting money on the table to secure workers good onward employment.
“By working in partnership with the Scottish Government, we’ve unlocked an unprecedented joint investment plan to support workers and secure Grangemouth’s future, and I will continue to spare no effort to drive this work forward.
Scottish Government cabinet secretary for net zero and energy, Gillian Martin, added, “Our immediate priority remains to support the workers directly affected by the regrettable closure of the refinery. We will do everything we can to ensure they are supported to retrain and move into adjacent industries within the wider Grangemouth area.
“These workers are highly skilled and have an important contribution to make locally and nationally. Our investment will help to unlock valuable new opportunities for them and ensure that their skills and experience continue to benefit industry in the area and the wider community.
“The new skills and training package is open to workers at both Grangemouth and Finnart Oil Terminal and will also be supported by the UK Government’s Office for Clean Energy Jobs.”
Kenny MacInnes, principal of Forth Valley College, commented, “Forth Valley College are uniquely placed to help and upskill any Petroineos employees who are impacted as a result of the closure of the oil refinery, and we will be there to offer the necessary training and support with the help of funding from the Scottish and UK Governments.
“The college is proud to have had a long term partnership with the Grangemouth Refinery – helping to train their Modern Apprentices – and will continue to build on this in our role of making learning work for the people of Forth Valley to ensure they have the skills for the future.
“We are committed to working with PACE (Partnership Action for Continuing Employment) and Falkirk Council to help guide former Petroineos employees onto courses at Forth Valley College which will help them transfer to new jobs in another industry or sector.”
