Latest news with #LouiseGilmour
Daily Record
07-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
SNP Government accused of 'dereliction of duty' over nuclear power snub
EXCLUSIVE: The GMB union is urging SNP ministers to reconsider a ban on new nuclear power plants to help create thousands of well-paid jobs in Scotland. The SNP Government has been accused of a "dereliction of duty" after failing to carry out any analysis of the potential economic benefits of building new nuclear power stations in Scotland. Nationalist ministers have also so carried out no research on the economic impact of decomissioning the two remaining nuclear plants north of the Border. The SNP has long been opposed to nuclear energy and has instead pushed for greater investment in renewables. The UK Government has taken a different approach and recently announced a £14.2 billion investment to build the Sizewell C reactor in Suffolk. The GMB union is now urging the Scottish Government to reconsider its ban on new nuclear power to help meet net zero targets, deliver secure energy and create thousands of well-paid jobs. Louise Gilmour, GMB Scotland secretary, branded the failure of the Scottish Government to properly analyse the potential economic benefits of nuclear energy 'a dereliction of duty.' She said: 'New nuclear can help provide a baseload of safe, clean and secure energy while creating thousands of good, skilled, unionised jobs in Scotland. The Scottish Government's refusal to discuss the potential benefits in public is one thing but to discover it is not even analysing them in private seems beyond belief. "To allow ministers' ideological opposition to nuclear energy to block analysis of its potentially huge economic benefits is a dereliction of duty.' She spoke out after the union asked the Scottish Government for its analysis of the economic impact of decommissioning the Hunterston nuclear plant, in Ayrshire, now underway, and Torness, in East Lothian, where decommissioning is due to begin in 2030. It also asked for the analysis of the economic benefits linked to the potential expansion of new nuclear stations in Scotland. In response, to the request submitted under Freedom of Information legislation, the union was told: "The Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested." Gilmour, GMB Scotland secretary, said the need for Holyrood ministers to end their opposition to nuclear power has become even more urgent after the UK Government recently announced £14 billion investment in a new plant at Sizewell C. Meanwhile, the nuclear plant being built at Hinkley Point C in Somerset is estimated to have created 1,600 jobs for Scots workers and the awarding of almost £300m of contracts to Scots firms. Analysis by the GMB suggests suggests four small modular reactors (SMRs) could create up to 800 jobs generating £60million a year in wages. At Torness, two new reactors would create up to jobs for 1,000 workers being paid £90m annually. Sarah Boyack, Scottish Labour energy spokeswoman, said: "Scottish Labour has been clear that we will end the SNP's ideological opposition to nuclear power that is holding Scotland back and blocking the creation of high-quality jobs. "At the stroke of a pen, the SNP could unlock billions of pounds of investment. And yet, we now learn that the Scottish Government hasn't even bothered to carry out an analysis of the benefits that nuclear energy would bring. "Only Scottish Labour has the vision to set a new direction for Scotland which maximises the opportunities available through clean energy and economic growth." A Scottish Government spokesman 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 and creates radioactive waste which is difficult and costly to dispose of. "Significant growth in renewables, storage hydrogen, carbon capture and decommissioning are key opportunities for our future energy workforce in Scotland – with independent scenarios from Ernst and Young (EY) showing that with the right support, Scotland's low carbon and renewable energy sector could support nearly 80,000 jobs by 2050."
The Herald Scotland
05-07-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Firm commits to delivering 1,200 jobs at former coal terminal
The agreement will underpin the company's plans to produce specialised subsea high voltage cables capable of transporting electricity generated by offshore wind farms in the UK and abroad. Executives and union leaders met in Glasgow to finalise the agreement as GMB, one of the biggest unions across the UK energy sector, urged UK and Scottish ministers to help accelerate the development. GMB Scotland secretary Louise Gilmour said the ground-breaking agreement shows how the voice of workers and their communities can be harnessed to help create new jobs in green energy. A future look at the HDVC manufacturing site at Hunterston (Image: XLCC) She said: 'Too many workers believe the transition to renewables is being done to them, not with them. 'That must change and this agreement shows how. The voice of workers must shape industrial strategy and energy policies if our country is ever to turn talk into jobs. 'Only genuine and effective cooperation between industry, unions, and governments can help deliver the transformation needed in our manufacturing supply chains. 'We share the ambition of XLCC to create good, unionised jobs in Ayrshire and hope innovative agreements like this can be a template to help secure a new industrial future.' READ MORE: GMB said the UK Government's promise to create 650,000 new high-quality jobs will rest on harnessing the combined strength of industry and workers, and urged governments on both sides of the border to support the proposed cable plant at Hunterston. The agreement details how the business and union will work together to campaign for the development while building industry-leading industrial relations. The agreement is intended to pave the way to a full recognition agreement with collective bargaining as the workforce grows. XLCC chief executive Ian Douglas said: "This agreement is a significant step forward as we work to establish a new UK-based supply chain for HVDC subsea cable manufacturing. 'Our investment at Hunterston will create up to 1,200 skilled jobs and place Ayrshire at the heart of the UK's energy transition. This is a truly transformative opportunity for community and country. 'We're proud to be working in partnership with GMB to ensure these jobs offer long-term, high-quality opportunities in a growing global industry.'
The Herald Scotland
02-07-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Landmark agreement to help create 1200 manufacturing jobs
A trade union has forged the landmark agreement with a subsea cable company to help create up to 1,200 energy manufacturing jobs in Ayrshire. GMB Scotland signed the voluntary recognition agreement with XLCC on Tuesday as it backed the company's plans to transform the site of a former coal terminal at Hunterston. Executives and union leaders met in Glasgow to finalise the agreement as GMB, one of the biggest unions across the UK energy sector, urged UK and Scottish ministers to help accelerate the development. Louise Gilmour, GMB Scotland secretary, said the agreement 'shows how the voice of workers and their communities can be harnessed to help create new jobs in green energy'. She said: 'Too many workers believe the transition to renewables is being done to them not with them. 'That must change and this agreement shows how. The voice of workers must shape industrial strategy and energy policies if our country is ever to turn talk into jobs. 'Only genuine and effective cooperation between industry, unions, and governments can help deliver the transformation needed in our manufacturing supply chains. 'We share the ambition of XLCC to create good, unionised jobs in Ayrshire and hope innovative agreements like this can be a template to help secure a new industrial future.' GMB said the UK Government's promise to create 650,000 new high-quality jobs will rest on harnessing the combined strength of industry and workers, and urged governments on both sides of the border to support the proposed cable plant at Hunterston. The agreement 'details how the business and union will work together to campaign for the development while building industry-leading industrial relations', the union said. The agreement is intended to pave the way to a full recognition agreement with collective bargaining as the workforce grows. Ian Douglas, XLCC chief executive, said: "This agreement is a significant step forward as we work to establish a new UK-based supply chain for HVDC subsea cable manufacturing. 'Our investment at Hunterston will create up to 1,200 skilled jobs and place Ayrshire at the heart of the UK's energy transition. This is a truly transformative opportunity for community and country. 'We're proud to be working in partnership with GMB to ensure these jobs offer long-term, high-quality opportunities in a growing global industry.' New rooftop restaurant and bar to launch A new rooftop restaurant is set to open in the heart of Glasgow this summer – bringing Mexican-American flavours, cocktails and panoramic views of the city skyline. SíSí Rooftop is located at the top of the eighth storey of The Social Hub Glasgow in the newly developed Candleriggs Square in the Merchant City. It will offer a "lively yet laid-back space to enjoy small plates, innovative drinks, a carefully curated wine list, and live music". The venue offers 160 covers in total, with 100 inside the restaurant and 60 on an open-air terrace. 'Historic convergence' of crypto and golf at Trump Aberdeen The Scottish Championship to be held at Donald Trump's course in Aberdeenshire has a new name following the first-ever crypto sponsorship deal to be signed by the DP World Tour.
The Herald Scotland
14-06-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Industry leader writes to SNP minister over new nuclear ban
The long term commitment includes a major new plant in the south of England that will create 10,000 jobs, as well as small modular reactors. Louise Gilmour, the GMB Scotland secretary has written to Gillian Martin, MSP and Scottish energy secretary, 'to urge the Scottish Government to review its stance on blocking new nuclear'. She said the new investment 'includes £14.2 billion for an entirely new nuclear site at Sizewell, and also £2.5bn in cutting edge small modular reactor (SMR) technologies'. Louise Gilmour, GMB Scotland secretary. (Image: Andrew Cawley) Ms Gilmour wrote: 'Both of these investments will not just protect our energy security, but create thousands of well-paid, skilled jobs in their construction, and in the long term, hundreds of well-paid jobs in operations and research. 'A total of 10,000 jobs will be created at Sizewell alone. Where in Scotland are jobs being created at such a scale? Scotland's manufacturing base – in construction and energy – is dying.' She continued: 'We have experienced the closure of Grangemouth in Falkirk, of Aggregate Industries in North Lanarkshire, the slashing of jobs at Tarmac in East Lothian, the trickle of job losses from the North Sea, and the yards at Methil and Arnish being brought back from the brink yet again and still there are no major renewable works in those yards 'We are now contending with the planned closure of Alexander Dennis which would be yet another blow to the Falkirk area. This is not sustainable.' READ MORE: 'Amidst broken promises on a green jobs revolution, the Scottish Government cannot afford to scoff at the offering of nuclear energy on the table. An offer that would in large part be funded by the UK Government. The ban against new nuclear – especially SMRs – must be lifted.' Gillian Martin, Scottish energy secretary. (Image: Getty Images) The union said green-lighting new mini reactors in Scotland could create thousands of skilled jobs generating hundreds of millions of pounds for surrounding communities. Rachel Reeves, Chancellor of the Exchequer, said the government is 'investing in Britain's renewal, with the biggest nuclear building programme in a generation ... this landmark decision is our Plan for Change in action', adding: 'We are creating thousands of jobs, kickstarting economic growth and putting more money people's pockets.' The Scottish Government declined to answer in direct response but a spokesperson said to this and earlier questions from The Herald: '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.' The union said the nuclear industry supports around 3,700 jobs in Scotland and contributes about £400 million to the Scottish economy.
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."
