Blindcraft jobs saved after funding campaign victory

MORE than 100 jobs for disabled people have been saved after the UK Government increased funding for a protected scheme.

Workers at Royal Strathclyde Blindcraft Industries, in Springburn feared for their jobs if funding was not renewed or was cut under government reforms.

The Evening T ime s reported earlier this year the concerns that the factory could be at risk under the review plans.

However, the Government has now said it will run the scheme until 2021 instead of reforming it in March next year.

Local politicians and union had lobbied the Government to ensure the factory had a future and the jobs were secure.

The factory employs 250 people and 107 have a disability, many of whom are recognised as having difficulty maintaining a job elsewhere.

The UK Government provides half a million pounds a year under the Protected Places scheme, without which the fac tory cou ld not operate.

Paul Sweeney, Glasgow North East Labour MP, said: “I enjoyed visiting the Royal Strathclyde Blindcraft Industries ( RSBi) in Springburn after the UK Government announced additional funding for disabled people in work. This is a direct result of me raising concerns as the local MP with the Minister for Disabled People, Work and Health, Sarah Newton, in Parliament earlier this year about the scrapping of the Protected Places Scheme.

“After raising the concerns of RSBi and Community Trade Union reps with the minister, RSBi was accepted onto the Protected Places pilot scheme and so impressed senior civil servants that they have decided not only to maintain the current grant level but to increase it.

“This is a fantastic result for the 250 people who work at the Blindcraft, 50 per cent of whom are registered blind.”

Bob Doris, SNP MSP for Mayhill and Springburn, also campaigned on behalf of the staff to protect the jobs and gave the news a cautious welcome.

He said: Let’s hope this is a ringing endorsement rather than a stay of execution.”

Mr Doris had feared that funding criteria was changed it could face a similar fate of the Remploy factory that was forced to close

Union leaders were relieved the factory still had a future providing work.

Steven Mcgurk, RSBi Community Trade Union Branch Secretary, said: “This is good news for supported businesses like RSBi Glasgow and many others across the UK.

“The government funding is a lifeline for supported bu s i nesses and thei r workers.

“These are businesses that provide meaningful, sustainable employment to thousands of people who may otherwise struggle to find work and the government should be helping them to do so.”

The RSBi known locally as the Blindcraft, manufactures a wide range of products including kitchens, office and educational furniture, and timber building kits.

RSBi is the manufacturing division of City Building which is owned jointly by Glasgow City Council and Wheatley Group.

Leader of Glasgow City Council, Susan Aitken, had also made representations on its behalf urging the Government to continue its support for RSBi.