Combined investment from the Scottish and UK Government's will allow a college to offer "bespoke support" and retraining for workers impacted by the closure of the Grangemouth refinery.

Plans for the closure of the site in the second quarter of next year, with the loss of up to 400 jobs, were announced by owners Petroineos last month.

The news appeared to come as a surprise to both Governments, which immediately announced £20 million in funding to support the workers; the money coming on top of an already announced £80 million as part of the Falkirk and Grangemouth Growth Deal.

Forth Valley College will receive funding to offer support to workers at risk of redundancy to help them into new jobs in the local area, while the college will also contact workers to understand their skills and identify gaps which could land them work in the green energy projects.


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As a result, the UK and Scottish Governments will offer "targeted interventions" to upskill the workforce ahead of the closure of the refinery next year.

UK 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."

Scotland's acting Energy Secretary Gillian Martin said looking after the workforce was the "immediate priority" of the Government after the "regrettable" decision to close.

"We will do everything we can to ensure they are supported to retrain and move into adjacent industries within the wider Grangemouth area," she said.

"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."

UK Government Energy Secretary Ed Miliband continued: “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.”


Read more on the closure of Grangemouth:

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The package is open to workers at both Grangemouth and Finnart Oil Terminal and will be supported by the UK Government’s Office for Clean Energy Jobs.

Kenny MacInnes, Principal of Forth Valley College, continued: “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.”