SCOTTISH Enterprise chief executive Steve Dunlop and John Alexander, the leader of Dundee City Council will lead the action group set up to secure a future for the Michelin tyre factory, which is threatened with closure.
Leading business experts are also in the group, along with the plant manager, John Reid, officials from the Unite union, Economy Secretary Derek Mackay and Scottish Secretary David Mundell.
The group will meet for the first time on Monday.
READ MORE: First Minister will leave 'no stone unturned' in battle to save Michelin plant
Michelin wants to close the plant in mid-2020, but have agreed to consider any proposals brought forward by the action group or trade unions, following Mackay’s intervention.
Mackay said: “I have been clear that the Scottish Government will leave no stone unturned in our efforts to find a viable and sustainable future for the plant and its highly skilled workforce.
“The Michelin Action Group will work tirelessly in the coming weeks to explore all options and provide Michelin with a proposition that demonstrates what support can offered, be it business rates or financial aid, to help retain a presence in Dundee.
“Working with the workforce and industry experts, the group will examine how the plant could be repurposed for the future if Michelin decide to press ahead with the closure.”
Alexander added: “It is imperative that the membership of the action group reflects stakeholders, experience and those with an ability to find solutions. I’m delighted to say that I believe those identified do just that.
“This action group will hit the ground running with one focus, to retain Michelin’s footprint in Dundee.”
The action group’s full membership is as follows:
- Derek Mackay, Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Finance
- Steve Dunlop, chief executive of Scottish Enterprise
- Councillor John Alexander, leader of Dundee City Council
- David Mundell, Secretary of State for Scotland
- John Reid, site director, Michelin Dundee
- Professor Keith Ridgway, Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre
- Sarah Jardine, chair of the Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Service Board
- Marc Jackson, Michelin Dundee site convenor, Unite
- Dougie Maguire, regional co-ordinating officer, Unite
- Bob Macgregor, regional officer, Unite
- Davie Brady, Michelin Dundee branch convenor, Unite
- David Martin, chief executive, Dundee City Council
- Ellis Watson, chair of Tay Cities Enterprise Forum
- Tim Allan, deputy chair of the Tay Cities Enterprise Forum and president of Scottish Chambers of Commerce
- Alison Henderson, chief executive of Dundee Chamber of Commerce
- Damien Yeates, chief executive of Skills Development Scotland
Advice will also be sought from a range of manufacturing leaders including Dr Hamid Mughal, co-chair of the Strategic Leadership Group of the National Manufacturing Institute for Scotland.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here