Scottish minister meets Stewart Milne administrators
A senior Scottish minister has met with administrators for Stewart Milne Group after 217 workers of the collapsed company were made redundant on Monday (8 January). Neil Grey, cabinet secretary for wellbeing economic system, sparkling work and energy, met with administrators from Teneo on Tuesday morning (9 January) to chat about employment alternatives, unfinished sites
A senior Scottish minister has met with administrators for Stewart Milne Group after 217 workers of the collapsed company were made redundant on Monday (8 January).
Neil Grey, cabinet secretary for wellbeing economic system, sparkling work and energy, met with administrators from Teneo on Tuesday morning (9 January) to chat about employment alternatives, unfinished sites and customers who’re but to receive their homes.
The Scottish Nationwide Occasion (SNP) politician instructed the Scottish Parliament in Holyrood the old day afternoon: “I was very sorry to listen to that Stewart Milne Group had ceased procuring and selling after 49 years. Our thoughts are with the affected workers and their families at this very sophisticated time.
“This morning, I met representatives of the administrator Teneo and made it sure to them that I desire each and each seemingly toughen to be supplied to affected workers, contractors, suppliers and homebuyers. The oldsters which shall be tormented by the announcement are, for sure, our instantaneous precedence.
“We take note that approaches dangle already been received from doable recruiters for workers who dangle lost their jobs or who’re prone to losing doing so. Moreover, PACE [the Scottish Government’s partnership action for continue employment] has asked the administrators to distribute different data to the affected workers.”
Grey acknowledged that the crumple might well particularly affect apprentices however added: “I imagine that their talents will seemingly be in excessive inquire of, in spite of where they’re within the country”.
Grey added that Teneo “is in discussions” with the Nationwide Home Building Council, which provides warranties and insurance on the purchase of unusual homes, about customers that dangle supplied houses they’re but to maintain.
Seaparately, the Unite union talked about the resolution to impress workers redundant with out consultation used to be “entirely unacceptable” and “doubtlessly unlawful”, alongside with that it might perhaps per chance toughen 60 of its affected individuals to claim a proactive reward by an employment tribunal.
Unite industrial officer John Clark talked about: “The actions of the Stewart Milne crew regarding the shortcoming of consultation with the workers is doubtlessly unlawful, and it is far indubitably no contrivance to take care of a loyal team. We are within the approach of contacting all our individuals to development defending award claims being lodged against the corporate.”
Douglas Lumsden, the Conservative MSP for North East Scotland, instructed Holyrood the crumple of Aberdeenshire-based mostly Stewart Milne “is terrible data for the 217 inform workers” of the crew. He added there will “additionally be severe concerns for all those connected with the provision chain, alongside with contractors and self-employed tradespeople”.
Kevin Stewart, the SNP MSP for Aberdeen Central, talked about that the corporate had been “a distinguished employer and housebuilder in Aberdeen and the north-east for as regards to 50 years, and its loss can dangle a distinguished affect on the communities [there]”.
Weak Scottish Liberal Democrat chief Willie Rennie talked about Stewart Milne’s crumple used to be “a symptom of a housing sector that is in disaster”, and asked the Scottish Govt whether or no longer it might perhaps per chance reassess its fresh resolution no longer to yell a housing emergency.
Grey replied: “With all due admire to Willie Rennie, I’m genuinely sorry that he chose to politicise the topic at this stage, no longer least because Stewart Milne, because it went throughout the sale task, talked about that the scenario used to be to carry out with the wider UK housing market.
“For sure we can carry out all that we can to be obvious that we proceed to invest in housebuilding in Scotland, determining the serious role that it performs no longer factual for the economic system however for our social infrastructure.
“In the face of a declining capital finances from the UK Govt, we can carry out all that we can to be obvious that we reply as most efficient and most effectively as seemingly.”
The dialogue at Holyrood got right here after the executive govt of lobbying crew Homes for Scotland talked about she used to be alarmed more Scottish housebuilders might well crumple in coming months amid “extensive-ranging challenges” facing the field.
Teneo declined to say.
