Latest news with #Clyde2070
The Herald Scotland
6 days ago
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Scottish bus company in liquidation with all staff redundant
I reported last month that James Dewar and Alistair McAlinden from Interpath were appointed as joint provisional liquidators and two local authorities are making arrangements for affected school travel. Dundee-based Fishers Tours private hire coach company provided short and long-distance travel in Scotland. The company employed 27 people and operated from Mid Craigie Industrial Estate with a fleet of 18 coaches. The liquidator said: "In recent months, the business has faced financial challenges amidst rising costs but operated with fixed price customer contracts, which impacted its ability to meet its financial obligations." The business ceased trading and on appointment of the joint provisional liquidators all staff were made redundant. The liquidator also told The Herald: "All services, including pre-booked hires, group travel and music event travel, have ceased. Customers with bookings are advised to seek alternative travel arrangements, while customers who have paid deposits are advised to speak to their bank or credit card provider." Dundee City Council and Angus Council are "making arrangements to ensure the continuity of school transport services". THIS ARTICLE APPEARED IN BUSINESS HQ MONTHLY Alistair McAlinden, managing director at Interpath and joint provisional liquidator of Fishers Tours Limited, said: "Fishers Tours has been a core part of the local transport network in the Dundee City and Angus region for more than two decades and we recognise the devastating impact the closure of the business will have on staff, customers and wider community. "Regrettably, all bookings and services have been cancelled and customers are advised to seek alternative arrangements and engage with their bank or credit card provider if a deposit has been paid. As provisional liquidators, our immediate focus is to explore the circumstances of the liquidation and support affected employees to ensure they have access to the necessary guidance in making claims to the Redundancy Payments Office." 'Multi-billion redevelopment' of nuclear submarine base Plans have been unveiled for the 'multi-decade' programme. (Image: PA) Elsewhere last month, there was momentous news on the 'multi-billion' pound redevelopment of a nuclear submarine base in Scotland. Plans have been unveiled for the 'multi-decade' work at the Faslane base which is the Royal Navy's main presence north of the Border. An initial £250 million of funding over three years will support 'jobs, skills and growth'. The move was announced as part of the UK Government's Spending Review nuclear strategy that includes the £14.2 billion investment to build Sizewell C plant in Suffolk. The new "Clyde 2070 programme represents one of the most significant and sustained UK Government investments in Scotland over the coming decades". It said it demonstrates commitment to UK defence and bringing the economic, skills and employment benefits to Scotland, "driving defence as an engine for economic growth and supporting the government's Plan for Change". READ MORE: The £250m allocated immediately for the next three years 'will help adapt and improve the working environment and infrastructure at the site, preparing it to welcome the new Dreadnought Class of deterrent submarines and SSN-AUKUS, the Royal Navy's next generation of attack submarines'. As part of the Strategic Defence Review, the UK Government has committed to build up to 12 SSN-AUKUS submarines, which will replace the current fleet of Astute Class attack submarines. The Defence Nuclear Enterprise - the partnership of organisations that operate, maintain, renew and sustain the UK's nuclear deterrent as part of a national endeavour – is "investing to sustain the deterrent for as long as required". Ian Murray, Scottish Secretary, said: "This extra £250m investment for HMNB Clyde is another fantastic example of how Scotland is at the heart of the UK defence policy. "As home of the Royal Navy Submarine Service - including the UK's nuclear deterrent - HMNB Clyde will play a crucial role for decades to come as we restore Britain's readiness, deter our adversaries and help drive economic growth across the UK, as part of our Plan for Change. "Over 6,500 military and civilian personnel are employed at HMNB Clyde, making it the second largest employment site in Scotland, with a total of around 25,600 jobs across Scotland supported by an annual multi-billion pound Ministry of Defence investment." John Healey, Defence Secretary, said: "We have an unwavering commitment to our nuclear-powered submarines. The long-term, sustained investment for HMNB Clyde will provide the infrastructure necessary to keep our submarines maintained and at sea - continuing to protect us around the clock. "This funding, and the continued dedication and skill of the men and women that help build and operate our submarines, will ensure we are able to meet the threats we face, while supporting the Plan for Change and showing how defence is an engine for growth, creating good jobs across Scotland."
Glasgow Times
19-06-2025
- Business
- Glasgow Times
Johnny Carson: 'Glasgow wins when governments work together'
After lying semi-derelict for two years, the Barlia pitches and football facility was rescued by the Castlemilk Community Football Trust, led by dynamo charity manager John Harkins, with backing from Glasgow City Council and with support from both UK and Scottish Governments. The Trust now hosts 24 clubs, has reopened state-of-the-art changing pavilions, and secured a 25-year lease. Castlemilk's Barlia Football Centre is living proof that when the different layers of government pull in the same direction, by working with local communities, our city benefits. At the most recent City Council meeting, councillors supported a motion which placed the Clyde at the heart of the city's identity and renewal. There were many great ideas and contributions submitted to the debate, including establishing water bus services on the Clyde and exploring the potential for a revival of an operational tram on Clydeside. The whole debate also reiterated a simple truth: that these great ideas require serious investment and cooperation from multiple partners. That spirit of co-operation is needed if we wish Glasgow to truly flourish. The recent UK Labour Government's Spending Review has delivered an extra £9.1 billion for Scottish public services, together with targeted funds for growth sectors and local projects. £160 million has been ring-fenced for an Investment Zone spread across the Glasgow City Region; the zone is expected to unlock £300 million of private capital and support up to 10,000 new jobs over the next decade. £250 million to kick off the multi-decade "Clyde 2070" modernisation of HM Naval Base Clyde, securing thousands of skilled jobs on both banks while reinforcing national security. This is on top of the continuing Type-26 Frigate programme, which has delivered billions of pounds of investment and secured thousands of jobs for Glasgow. Glasgow Labour MPs have been active in supporting calls for Glasgow yards to secure even more work by extending the Type-26 Frigate programme to Norwegian contracts. However, where cooperation fails, the consequences are painfully visible. News that bus-builder Alexander Dennis is intent on shifting production from Falkirk to Yorkshire is another blow for our country's industry. But it has since emerged that the SNP Scottish Government ordered a mere 44 buses while Greater Manchester bought 160. The spectre of 400 lost Scottish jobs now hangs over the firm. Many people will be asking the same question: what chance have Scottish businesses got if they are not backed by the Scottish Government? This pattern is sadly familiar. The Islay-class ferry contracts – worth £91 million – went to the Cemre yard in Turkey, bypassing Scottish shipyards altogether. Similar awards to Polish yards followed. Procurement choices made unilaterally in Edinburgh exported hundreds of jobs that could have stayed on the Clyde or at Port Glasgow. First Minister John Swinney recently kicked off an attempted revival following the SNP's defeat to Labour in the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election, by announcing that more focus would have to be put into the campaign for independence. But ordinary Glaswegians aren't interested in continuing constitutional trench warfare. They want working buses, good public services, decent jobs, and well-run local facilities after 18 years of SNP rule. Labour's Spending Review and UK investments on the Clyde highlight the opportunities that exist when governments trust our city, businesses and workers. Glasgow gains when all its governments pull together; it loses whenever they drift apart. The real priorities should be obvious.
The Herald Scotland
15-06-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
'Multi-decade' future of nuclear base in Scotland secured
The UK Government plans a multi-billion-pound redevelopment of His Majesty's Naval Base (HMNB) Clyde, we revealed this week. The commitment of the UK Government is long term. (Image: PA) An initial £250 million of funding will be made over three years which will help support 'jobs, skills and growth' at Faslane, the Royal Navy's main presence in Scotland. Westminster said that the "Clyde 2070 programme represents one of the most significant and sustained UK Government investments in Scotland over the coming decades". Read the full story here Scottish economy tops the UK table on one key measure Scotland was top of the table on one key measure. (Image: Gordon Terris) Scotland's private sector economy bounced back into expansion territory last month, a key survey revealed this week. Scotland was the only one of the 12 UK nations and regions to record a rise in private sector employment in May in Royal Bank of Scotland's growth tracker survey. The business activity index for Scotland, a seasonally adjusted measure of the month-on-month change in the combined output of the manufacturing and services sectors – rose from 47.4 in April to 50.5 in May on a seasonally adjusted basis to indicate a renewed rise in business activity. This marked the first increase in output on this measure for six months. With May's reading of 50.5 only slightly above the no-change mark of 50, Royal Bank of Scotland observed the rate of expansion last month was 'marginal and similar to that seen across the UK as a whole'. Read Ian McConnell's story here Famous Scottish retailer appoints ex-Rangers chief as loss reported Stewart Robertson, chief executive. (Image: Sterling) Former Rangers managing director Stewart Robertson has been appointed chief executive of Sterling Furniture Group on a permanent basis as the venerable Scottish retailer looks to get back on track after a challenging period. Sterling confirmed the appointment as new accounts show the Tillicoultry-based company tumbled to a loss of nearly £4 million for the year ended August 31, following a profit of £43,870 the year prior. Turnover dipped to £50.55m from £83.6m. The loss coincided with a downturn in the broader UK retail sector, as consumers grappled with high inflation and interest rates, while businesses dealt with increased operating costs. Mr Robertson, who spent eight years at the Ibrox club, initially joined Sterling as interim chief executive in December, with his arrival following the appointment of Bernard Dunn, a former head of insurance broker TL Dallas in Scotland, as chairman in October. Read Scott Wright's story here AROUND THE GREENS ⛳ 'We can't get more people into St Andrews to play golf' The Old Course attracts tens of thousands of overseas golfers every year, and the boss of St Andrews Links Trust has said he would like to spread the benefits of this more widely throughout Scotland. (Image: VisitScotland/Peter Dibdin) This article appears as part of Kristy Dorsey's Around the Greens series Created in 1974 as a way to maintain local public ownership of its golf courses when town councils were being abolished in accordance with Lord Wheatley's report on local governance in Scotland, St Andrews Links Trust is the charity in charge of the most important parcel of land in all of golf.
The Herald Scotland
14-06-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
SNP ban on nuclear energy is ‘abdication of responsibility'
Today, we exclusively reveal the industry response in the week that the UK Government announced it would create 10,000 jobs with £14 billion-plus investment in a new-era nuclear plant in England. It prompted an angry response from the GMB Scotland union which has written to the Scottish energy secretary calling for a change in stance. Torness, East Lothian. (Image: Getty Images) Louise Gilmour, GMB Scotland secretary, said it is 'beyond time for SNP ministers to exploit the potential of new nuclear energy to achieve net zero and create jobs'. She said: 'New nuclear can help provide a baseload of safe, clean and secure energy while creating thousands of skilled, well-paid, unionised jobs in Scotland. 'The Holyrood government's absolute refusal to seriously consider its potential is an abdication of responsibility and needs to change. 'It makes no sense if ministers want to achieve net zero targets and it makes no sense if they want Scotland's economy to grow again.' The nuclear industry supports almost 3,700 jobs in Scotland adding £400 million to the economy but Ms Gilmour said that is 'only a fraction of the potential economic benefits if the Scottish Government reverses its ban on new nuclear power'. She has urged ministers to trigger an immediate review of future options. READ MORE: 'We need new nuclear to deliver a golden age of clean energy abundance, because that is the only way to protect family finances, take back control of our energy, and tackle the climate crisis. 'This is the Government's clean energy mission in action, investing in lower bills and good jobs for energy security.' A spokesperson also said: 'The announcement comes as the UK Government is set to confirm one of Europe's first Small Modular Reactor programmes. This comes alongside record investment in R&D for fusion energy, worth over £2.5bn over five years. Taken together with Sizewell C, this delivers the biggest nuclear building programme in a generation.' Ms Gilmour wrote to Gillian Martin, Scottish energy secretary: 'A total of 10,000 jobs will be created at Sizewell alone. Where in Scotland are jobs being created at such a scale?' I reported this week that among the Labour government's plans is the redevelopment of a major nuclear base in Scotland. It signals a 'multi-decade' commitment to the site where around 6,500 people work. The UK Government plans a multi-billion-pound redevelopment of His Majesty's Naval Base (HMNB) Clyde. An initial £250 million of funding will be made over three years which will help support 'jobs, skills and growth' at Faslane, the Royal Navy's main presence in Scotland. Westminster said that the "Clyde 2070 programme represents one of the most significant and sustained UK Government investments in Scotland over the coming decades". A Scottish Government spokesperson said: "The Scottish Government is focussed on supporting growth and creating jobs by capitalising on Scotland's immense renewable energy capacity rather than expensive new nuclear energy which takes decades to build, creates toxic waste which is difficult and costly to dispose of and does not generate power at a cost that will bring down energy bills."
Scotsman
11-06-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
What the Spending Review means for Scotland and the projects being funded
How the spending plans announced by Rachel Reeves will impact Scotland Sign up to our Politics newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... It is a raft of announcements that promises to deliver £52 billion for Scotland by the end of 2029. Alongside funding tranches for Wales and Northern Ireland, chancellor Rachel Reeves said her plans announced in Wednesday's spending review amounted to 'the largest settlements in real terms since devolution was introduced.' But what exactly did she announce, and where is the money going? Acorn Despite numerous promises made by the Conservatives, and then Labour, the carbon capture scheme at St Fergus in Aberdeenshire - which would take greenhouse gas emissions from the nation's biggest polluters and store them in depleted gas reservoirs under the North Sea - has languished on the backburner. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The planned Acorn carbon capture site. | PA The ambitious project suffered a major blow four years ago when it was overlooked for support in favour of two carbon capture and storage initiatives in the north of England. With Acorn instead relegated to a reserve list for funding, the pressure on successive administrations at Westminster to right that wrong has been consistent ever since. Earlier this year, business leaders including Sir Ian Wood warned that Labour's failure to act threatened billions of pounds of investment and thousands of jobs. Such overtures have clearly been listened to by Ms Reeves and the Treasury. However, Ms Reeves did not specify exact levels of funding for the north east project, meaning that there will be keen interest in the government's infrastructure strategy, which is expected to be published next week. A final investment decision on the Acorn project will be taken later this parliamentary term, subject to "project readiness and affordability," according to the Treasury. Faslane As the home of the UK's nuclear deterrent, HM Naval Base Clyde is one of the most integral components of the nation's defence infrastructure, but there have been growing calls for more investment in the site, especially as the first of the new Dreadnought class ballistic missile submarines prepare to enter service. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Number 10 hopes new funding will create more than 8,000 career opportunities to help the sector fill 40,000 new roles by the end of the decade. | PA At a time of ongoing global unrest, Labour has responded, delivering a funding package of an initial £250m over the next three years as part of an initiative known as Clyde 2070. The decision forms part of a wider shift to increase the total defence budget. Ms Reeves described it as part of plans for 'investment in Scotland' and 'jobs in Scotland,' adding that the uplift was opposed by the SNP. The tranche of funding - part of a much broader increase in defence funding that Ms Reeves said will also benefit Scottish manufacturers - will go towards supporting jobs, skills and growth at the site near Helensburgh, and across the west of Scotland. More than 6,500 civilians and service personnel are currently employed on the facility. Supercomputer When the exascale computer was first announced in 2023, the promise of its potential made clear Scotland and the UK would have a device fit to rival anything being used in the US or China, with the technology capable of performing a quintillion - or one billion billion - calculations every second, allowing the UK to keep pace with rapid advances in artificial intelligence. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The University of Edinburgh has been at the forefront of supercomputing for decades. | Contributed But there was uproar last summer after Labour shelved financing for the project, describing it as one of a number of unfunded spending commitments it had inherited from the Tories. That decision was roundly criticised by MSPs, business leaders, and academics. So the decision to finally back the supercomputer initiative to the tune of £750m - confirmed on Monday ahead of the spending review - will be a significant feather in the cap of Scotland's tech industry, and a major boost in particular for the University of Edinburgh, which has already built a £31m building to house the machine. Its principal, Professor Sir Peter Mathieson, said the backing would create 'vast opportunities' for research and innovation. Asylum hotels It was not a prominent part of her speech, but Ms Reeves told the Commons that as part of the UK government's efforts in "tackling the asylum backlog", it plans to use funding to end what she described as 'the costly use of hotels to house asylum seekers' during this parliamentary term. - Labour had already pledged to end the practice in its General Election manifesto, but the confirmation will be undoubtedly welcomed by refugee charities who have long expressed concern about the impact of using such contingency accommodation. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Growth Mission Fund Ms Reeves said the UK government's new Growth Mission Fund, an initiative designed to focus on local projects by way of driving economic growth, will target at least one area in Scotland, with investment scheduled for Kirkcaldy's seafront and High Street. The extent of the funding is unclear, but it will no doubt be welcomed by civil leaders in the Fife town. Barnett consequentials Last, but by no means least, the uplift in funding for key UK government departments announced by Ms Reeves will have a knock-on effect for the SNP administration in Edinburgh. The largest element of Scottish Government funding remains the Barnett based block grant, and changes in that allocation are linked to changes in planned spending by UK Government departments British currency, pound coins and banknotes. The UK's economic outlook is improving, but trade challenges remain. | Contributed
