A POST-Brexit blueprint to cement Grangemouth’s status as a European leader for the lucrative chemical manufacturing sector has been released.
Home to major companies such as Ineos, BP and FujiFilm, the Forth Valley town’s industrial hub contains Scotland’s only crude oil refinery and the mainland terminus of the pipeline from the North Sea Forties system.
As much as 40 per cent of UK oil and gas flows to the town’s refinery complex, which is adjacent to Scotland’s biggest container port.
Last year, chemical manufacturing plants there, including those in the pharmaceuticals sector, accounted for almost 20 per cent – £247 million – of Scotland’s total gross value added (GVA) figure.
However, the industry has suffered as a result of increased competition from Asia and profitability has been hit by low oil prices.
Now, a blueprint has been produced by sector body Chemical Sciences Scotland (CSS), development agency Scottish Enterprise, and Falkirk Council to safeguard the future of the industrial complex in a post-Brexit world.
The Future Grangemouth Vision 2025 report sets out a plan to create 2,900 jobs and generate more than £150m of additional economic activity. It aims to sustain the town’s position as “a key European hub for sustainable high value chemical manufacturing” beyond the UK’s departure from the EU.
The plan includes achieving Smart City status, better collaboration between sectors, and improved road and rail infrastructure.
It has been produced following GVA output from chemical manufacturing in the Falkirk area falling by £51.3m between 2011 and 2016 – and released just days after two key EU bodies withdrew from the UK.
The European Medicines Agency will relocate from London to Amsterdam and the European Banking Authority is moving to Paris.
Tom Shields, acting chair of CSS industry leadership group, said: “The launch of the Grangemouth vision is a major milestone for the chemical sciences industry and is one which we are fully committed to delivering.
“Grangemouth is a globally competitive manufacturing cluster so it’s important that we develop these plans to ensure a sustainable future for the hub as well as develop and maximise the opportunity it offers to both Scotland and the UK.
“We are delighted to have the opportunity to set out this vision to key figures within government and the industry, with the hope that we can work together to progress the agenda and drive forward our aim of sustaining a vibrant and competitive chemicals industry which contributes growth to the Scottish economy.”
The vision document will be officially launched at an event at the Scottish Parliament, where efforts to drive growth will be discussed.
Business Minister Paul Wheelhouse said the skills and expertise in Grangemouth could provide the platform for Scotland to become a global innovator in the sector, while pushing developments in the car, aerospace, energy and life sciences industries.
Councillor Cecil Meiklejohn, who heads the SNP-Independent coalition at Falkirk Council, said: “The publication of the Grangemouth Future Vision report comes at just the right time as we prepare to submit a Growth Deal bid to the Scottish and UK governments.
“The chemical sector is the underpinning to the growth ambitions of the Falkirk area.”
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