More than 200 jobs at risk as Resideo and Honeywell to close Motherwell factories

More than 200 jobs are at risk after two firms based in Motherwell announced they are closing their doors.

Resideo and Honeywell are both planning to transfer production to other parts of the country.

Resideo told workers at the end of last week that it intends to move its production to Brno, Czech Republic, and Nagykanizsa, Hungary, to take advantage of lower operational costs.

The company manufactures products designed to help with the transition towards a lower-carbon economy, such as heating thermostats, air-conditioning thermostats, smart climate solutions, and plumbing components for boilers and heat pumps.

Approximately 116 jobs are at risk if the firm closes.

Meanwhile, the adjacent Honeywell site announced on Tuesday it’s proposing to primarily transfer work to Poole in England, putting a further 91 jobs at risk.

Unite the Union understands that work there could also be transferred abroad.

The company specialises in the design and manufacturing of electronic hardware and systems.

Honeywell has also delivered a number of government contracts with the MoD and produced more than 70 million face masks during the Covid pandemic.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Scotland can’t continue to haemorrhage manufacturing jobs. It’s simply unsustainable.

“The decision by both Resideo and Honeywell to close the joint site, and to transfer the work out of Scotland is unforgivable. Government needs to intervene and ministers must protect jobs and communities. They need to act now.”

Unite is calling for the Scottish and UK governments to explore all options to retain jobs at both companies.

The union says the potential loss of this combined manufacturing capacity is significant in the context of Scotland’s just-transition ambitions.

A Resideo spokesperson said: “Every business has to continue to adapt to remain competitive. Following a consultation process, we are moving our manufacturing operations from Newhouse to two of our other factories in Europe – Brno, Czech Republic, and Nagykanizsa, Hungary.

“Our continued focus is on supporting impacted colleagues, and starting the work needed to deliver the change.”

Honeywell has been approached for comment.