There was new hope today for workers of troubled Scottish engineering firm Bifab, which employs 1400 people across three sites.
BiFab is currently working on two significant contracts in respect of the Beatrice Offshore Windfarm which is under construction in the outer Moray Firth.
Western Isles MP Angus MacNeil said the company had been “caught on the hook of a complex contract.”
He spoke today to Paul Wheelhouse MSP, Minister for Business, Innovation and Energy, who confirmed that talks are ongoing with the lead developers SSE, the main contractors and Government accountants to do their upmost to keep BiFab going.
The company employs 150 people at Arnish on Lewis.
“Clearly I am concerned for the jobs at Arnish and I know that many families will be very worried during this period of uncertainty,” said Mr MacNeil.
“The lead developer SSE and the others, in conjunction with Copenhagen Partners and Red Rock have a huge part to play, as do the Royal Bank of Scotland, the main contractors Seaway Heavy
Lifting, the Scottish Government and Price Waterhouse Cooper who are all working hard to find a solution.
“I spoke with Paul Wheelhouse today who assured me that a lot of hard work is going on to prevent job losses and to secure the future for BiFab.
“The Minister assures me that the Scottish Government will leave no stone unturned and that the First Minister is anxious to see a good outcome for BiFab.
“Ultimately I feel that BiFab is a very good engineering company who have been caught on the hook of a complex contract. It is important to bridge them through this period as they will be successful on their own two feet in the future as well maintaining and developing skills in Scotland and on Lewis contributing to the national economy directly and indirectly on a big scale.”