Good news for Young’s Seafood workers stationed at the company’s Fraserburgh plant – it looks as though the site will not be completely shuttered as had been originally hypothesized.
The decision to keep the Aberdeenshire factory open is expected to save 250 jobs. However, Young’s still intends to cut nearly 650 jobs in the aftermath of its Sainsbury’s salmon contract loss to Marine Harvest late last month. According to the latest media reports out of the United Kingdom, the seafood processor is looking for a potential third party operator for its smokehouse in Grantown on Spey, which currently employs 24 people.
Last week, Young’s convened with staff members and representatives from Aberdeenshire and Highland councils, Scottish Enterprise, Skills Development Scotland and trade union Usdaw to discuss new strategies that the London-based processor could employ as a means to preserve jobs moving forward. Also in attendance at the Joint Stakeholder Group meeting was Business Minister Fergus Ewing, who was hopeful regarding the new developments.
"I am pleased that Young's is now exploring a revised option which would see their Fraserburgh factory remain open, albeit downsized to around 250 permanent staff - around half the current number - with no redundancies before 2016. An alternative buyer would be sought for the Grantown on Spey facility," Ewing told the BBC.
"The company is committed to constructive engagement with all stakeholders in a transparent way to explore all and every option to retain as many jobs as is feasible,” added Peter Ward, of Young’s Seafood."I would like to thank all of the stakeholders present for their commitment and also recognize the ongoing commitment of the workforce in these difficult circumstances."
Young’s lost its Sainsbury’s contract on 23 June; the transition of the contract from Young’s to the new holder, Marine Harvest, is expected to be completed by November of this year.
