Latest news with #GreenfoldSystemsLtd
Scottish Sun
14 hours ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Nearly 100 jobs at risk as Scots manufacturing firm plans to move to England
A notice of risk of redundancy was issued to employees on Friday STAFF FEARS Nearly 100 jobs at risk as Scots manufacturing firm plans to move to England AROUND 90 jobs are at risk at a Scottish manufacturing firm. Staff at Greenfold Systems Ltd in Dunfermline, Fife, have been told they could be made redundant due to a knock-on effect of bus company Alexander Dennis planning to move operations to England. 3 It comes as a knock-on effect of bus company Alexander Dennis planning to move operations to England Credit: PA 3 Around half of Greenfold staff are working on constructing parts for ADL buses Credit: Alamy The firm specialises in metal fabrication, cable and wiring along with assembly. And around half of its staff are working on constructing parts for the sides, interdecks and roofs of buses for Alexander Dennis Ltd (ADL). One of the company's three buildings is dedicated to the work on buses. A notice of risk of redundancy was issued to employees on Friday. Speaking to The Courier, Greenfold Systems managing director Craig Waterson described ADL as a "sizeable customer", and said it was a "difficult situation" for the company. He said: "What happens with ADL remains to be seen. We would, of course, like a clearer answer but we're not going to get one any time soon. "A communication has been issued to staff essentially telling them that their jobs are at risk as a result of the ADL situation. "We will give another update when we know more. We are weighing up life with and without ADL." Labour MP for Dunfermline and Dollar Graeme Downie has written to First Minister John Swinney about the threat of job losses at Greenfold. Scottish Liberal Democrat economy spokesperson Jamie Greene MSP said: "This will be an extremely difficult time for the workforce at Greenfold Systems, and my thoughts are with them today. Hundreds of Scots Jobs 'At Risk' as H&M Plans Call Centre Closure "The SNP's failure to support bus building and buying in Scotland is inflicting a chain reaction of misery for workers and local communities across the country. "If the SNP government are serious about delivering for our economy, they should be sitting down with the firm to thrash out a solution and finally get behind Scottish manufacturing." Secretary for Business and Employment Richard Lochhead said: "I am very disappointed to learn that Greenfold Systems Ltd has entered into consultation with a view to making redundancies at its Dunfermline site. "This will be a difficult time for the employees at risk of losing their jobs, their families and for the local area. Scottish Enterprise will engage with the company to better understand the reasons for this decision and whether it can offer any assistance. 3 Around 90 jobs are currently at risk at Greenfold Systems Ltd in Dunfermline Credit: Google "The people affected by this announcement are our immediate priority and the Scottish Government will do everything in its power to help those affected through our initiative for responding to potential redundancy situations, Partnership Action for Continuing Employment." Alexander Dennis announced that around 400 jobs are currently at risk after announcing shock plans to move operations to England. The company, which has factories in Falkirk and Larbert, Stirlingshire, said it was considering switching manufacturing to a site in Scarborough, Yorkshire. The plans would see work at the Falkirk site discontinued while the Larbert hub would be closed after current contracts are completed. The company said it was facing strong competition from Chinese electric bus manufacturers whose share of the market had risen from 10% to 35%. ADL director Paul Davies told a committee of MPs on Thursday that the closure of its Scottish sites was "not a done deal", but that orders for up to 100 buses and changes to regulation would be needed before the end of the year.
Daily Record
15 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Record
Alexander Dennis bus firm pulls out of Scotland with manufacturing jobs at risk
Workers at Greenfold Systems Ltd in Dunfermline were informed of potential redundancies as around half the workforce are employed to construct parts for the firm's buses. Up to 90 jobs are at risk at a Scots manufacturing firm after bus company Alexander Dennis revealed plans to pull out of Scotland. Workers at Greenfold Systems Ltd in Dunfermline were informed of potential redundancies as around half the workforce are employed to construct parts for the firm's buses. The building - one of three - is dedicated to the work on the buses, with other sites in Lochgelly and Chatham, England. Graeme Downie, Labour MP for Dunfermline and Dollar, said he has written to First Minister John Swinney about the threat of job losses. He told STV News: 'The management and staff at Greenfold Systems are doing their best in an incredibly difficult situation but the fact these 90 jobs in Dunfermline are at risk just shows the ripple effects of the SNP's economic incompetence and their failure to support Alexander Dennis and bus building in Scotland.' Plans under consultation at Alexander Dennis would close their Falkirk plant and cease production at the nearby Larbert factory, with 400 jobs at risk. Bosses at the bus firm this week said the closure of sites at Scotland is 'not a done deal'. The company told MSPs that orders for up to 100 buses and changes to regulation are needed before the end of the year. The jobs would instead be consolidated at a single site in Scarborough. In evidence to a Holyrood committee, president and managing director Paul Davies said: 'It's absolutely not a done deal, it is a consultation process." Davies told the committee the firm would need to see consistent orders to help stabilise the future of the business in Scotland. He said this would be around 70 to 100 buses by the end of the year and 300 to 400 for next year. Calls have been made for a furlough scheme to be put in place, with the Government being urged to step in and pay workers until building can begin. Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes pledged earlier this month to 'leave no stone unturned' to secure a future for the workers at risk. Scottish Liberal Democrat economy spokesperson Jamie Greene MSP said: 'This will be an extremely difficult time for the workforce at Greenfold Systems, and my thoughts are with them today. 'The SNP's failure to support bus building and buying in Scotland is inflicting a chain reaction of misery for workers and local communities across the country. 'If the SNP government are serious about delivering for our economy, they should be sitting down with the firm to thrash out a solution and finally get behind Scottish manufacturing.' Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Minister for Business and Employment Richard Lochhead said: 'I am very disappointed to learn that Greenfold Systems Ltd has entered into consultation with a view to making redundancies at its Dunfermline site. 'This will be a difficult time for the employees at risk of losing their jobs, their families and for the local area. Scottish Enterprise will engage with the company to better understand the reasons for this decision and whether it can offer any assistance. 'The people affected by this announcement are our immediate priority and the Scottish Government will do everything in its power to help those affected through our initiative for responding to potential redundancy situations, Partnership Action for Continuing Employment.'
STV News
17 hours ago
- Business
- STV News
Up to 90 jobs at risk at firm after bus company plans move to England
Up to 90 jobs are at risk at a manufacturing firm in Dunfermline as a knock-on effect of bus company Alexander Dennis planning to pull out of Scotland. Workers at Greenfold Systems Ltd were put on notice of potential job losses with around half of staff working on constructing parts for Alexander Dennis buses. One of the company's three buildings is dedicated to the work on the buses, with sites in Dunfermline and Lochgelly and Chatham in England. It comes after Alexander Dennis confirmed up to 400 jobs are at risk as it announced plans to close its site in Falkirk. The global independent bus manufacturers, a subsidiary of NFI Group Inc., confirmed that the consultation process had begun earlier this month. The bus manufacturer, which has eight sites across the UK including Falkirk and Larbert, announced that up to 400 jobs Scottish jobs could be axed. The firm is consolidating its UK bus body manufacturing operations into a single site in Scarborough, England. The Falkirk site is to be shut down, and production lines at Larbert will be suspended upon the completion of current contracts. Alexander Dennis said the move will 'lower overall costs, deliver clearer responsibilities and increase efficiency'. On Thursday, the company told MSPs the closure is 'not a done deal', but orders for up to 100 buses and changes to regulation are needed before the end of the year. 'It's absolutely not a done deal, it is a consultation process,' said president and managing director Paul Davies. 'We're very grateful for the active engagement we've had from both governments, from other political parties and stakeholders – we're absolutely committed to keeping those conversations going, along with this committee too. 'But there are, for us, other implications around the long-term, the runway, is the market dynamic going to change? 'Our assumptions are, if they don't change, we have to take action to look after the company.' But Mr Davies told the committee the firm would need to see consistent orders made to help stabilise the future of the business in Scotland. Asked how many orders the firm would need this year, he said it would be around 70 to 100 buses by the end of the year and 300 to 400 for next year. But even if the orders come, there will be a lag before work can begin on manufacturing to allow for design and the acquisition of materials. There have been calls for a furlough scheme to be put in place, with the Government being urged to step in and pay workers until building can begin. Trade union bosses estimated that such a scheme would cost up to £5m a committee meeting on Wednesday. Earlier this month, Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes pledged to 'leave no stone unturned' to secure a future for the workers at risk of losing their jobs. Graeme Downie, Labour MP for Dunfermline and Dollar has written to First Minister John Swinney about the threat of job losses at Greenfold. He said: 'The management and staff at Greenfold Systems are doing their best in an incredibly difficult situation but the fact these 90 jobs in Dunfermline are at risk just shows the ripple effects of the SNP's economic incompetence and their failure to support Alexander Dennis and bus building in Scotland.' Greenfold Systems Ltd and the Scottish Government have been contacted for comment. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
