Plant plays top role for youth jobs

A top manufacturing plant has been praised for its role in the East Ayrshire community.

EGGER ( UK)’ s chipboard production base at Auchinleck was hailed during a visit by South of Scotland MSP, Brian Whittle.

The plant, which will celebrate 20 years of operation next year, manufactures approximately 400,000m3 chipboard annually which goes on to be used in the furniture, interior design and specification sectors.

During his tour, the MSP was shown around the dedicated apprentice workshop.

The family- run company, which has a strong reputation of recruiting and retaining apprentices from the local area, recently won the Apprentice/ Graduate Award in this year’s s1jobs Recruitment Awards.

Whittle said: “It was fascinating to visit EGGER’s Barony plant and see the technology that transforms wood into their products.

“The plant’s chimney has become a local feature as recognisable in the local skyline as the Barony A- Frame; it’s great to see this kind of sophisticated manufacturing and production taking place in East Ayrshire.

“I congratulate EGGER on their commitment to providing apprenticeships and hope their work in this area will continue to develop and grow in the future.”

Plant director, Heiko Lichtblau, added: “We have an ongoing commitment to the local community through our award winning and dedicated apprenticeship programme which we are currently looking to extend even further.”