A Scots bus manufacturer confirmed up to 400 jobs are at risk as it announced plans to close its site in Falkirk.
Global independent bus manufacturers Alexander Dennis, a subsidiary of NFI Group Inc., confirmed that the consultation process had begun on Wednesday.
The bus manufacturer, which has eight sites across the UK including Falkirk and Larbert, announced that up to 400 jobs Scottish jobs could be axed.
The firm is consolidating its UK bus body manufacturing operations into a single site in Scarborough, England.
The site in Falkirk is to be shut down, and production lines at Larbert will be suspended upon the completion of current contracts.
Alexander Dennis said the move will “lower overall costs, deliver clearer responsibilities and increase efficiency”.
First Minister John Swinney said on X: “This will be an incredibly worrying time for workers at Alexander Dennis and their families.
“The Scottish Government will leave no stone unturned and explore all options that could protect jobs and manufacturing at Larbert. We stand ready to support anyone affected.”
Robert Deavy, GMB Scotland senior organiser in engineering and manufacturing, said: “This is a hammer blow for communities already reeling from the closure of Grangemouth.
“Like then, we are already hearing the same warm words from ministers about how they have tried but failed to secure workers’ jobs.
“If they have tried, they must try again and try harder.
“If the company is reviewing future operations, it must do so with an open mind and a determination to save jobs not shed them.
“We will do everything in our power to secure the future of Alexander Dennis in Falkirk and so must the company and so must ministers
Paul Davies, Alexander Dennis president and managing director, said: “We are proposing a new UK manufacturing strategy to underpin financial sustainability and lower operating costs in the face of changing and challenging market dynamics.
“Together with our parent NFI Group, we are extremely proud of our UK history and legacy dating back to 1895 and firmly believe in our people, products and business.
“We must take significant action to drive efficiency to allow our operating model to be competitive.
“It is extremely regrettable that as part of this, we must place jobs at potential risk of redundancy and propose to cease manufacturing operations at some of our facilities.”
Mr Davies added: “While stakeholders have been sympathetic of the situation, the stark reality is that current UK policy does not allow for the incentivisation or reward of local content, job retention and creation, nor does it encourage any domestic economic benefit.
“We have warned of the competitive imbalance for some time and would like to see policy and legislative changes that incentivise the delivery of local benefit where taxpayer money is invested.
“We strongly believe funding that supports public transport should lead to investment in local jobs, domestic supply chains, technology creation and a recurrent tax base.
“It is our hope that the forthcoming industrial strategy will provide reassurance that there is value in manufacturing within the borders of the UK and we remain hopeful of policy and legislative changes that increase the UK’s focus on support for domestic manufacturing.
“Our new strategy would allow us to respond appropriately to increase local production if structural changes are made.”
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