The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Plan for 250 new Coupar Angus jobs
BOOST: 2 Sisters Food Groups taking on more people at its chicken factory
Perthshire has been handed a jobs boost with plans for 250 new posts at a chicken factory.
Politicians hailed the pledge for the 2 Sisters Food Group site in Coupar Angus last night.
It follows the creation of 150 jobs at the plant last July.
Pete Wishart, MP for Perth and North Perthshire, said: “Any increase in local employment is to be welcomed.”
Perth and Kinross Provost Dennis Melloy agreed, adding: “Jobs and economic development are important for the area.”
The gains for Coupar Angus coincide with losses at Cambuslang, where 450 jobs are being axed with the closure of another 2 Sisters plant.
Up to 250 new jobs are to be created at a major Perthshire chicken processing plant under restructuring plans which will see another Scottish facility closed.
Food giant 2 Sisters has announced its intention to close its poultry processing site at Cambuslang – a 55-year-old loss-making facility – along with two other factories at Smethwick and Wolverhampton.
The Cambuslang closure will result in 450 job losses but 2 Sisters stressed its plans will see up to 1,000 new jobs created in the UK poultry supply chain.
It is expected that 250 of those jobs will be added at Coupar Angus, a move that follows an investment in the site’s cutting department last July which led to the creation of 150 jobs.
SNP Councillor Fiona Sarwar, one of the representatives for the Strathmore ward, said: “I welcome the news of employment growth at the 2 Sisters factory in Coupar Angus.
“It will provide a welcome boost to the local economy.”
Pete Wishart, MP for Perth and North Perthshire, said: “I welcome the news that there will be an increase in jobs at the 2 Sisters site in Coupar Angus.
“I hope that this will be a boost for the economy locally in Coupar Angus.”
In a statement, 2 Sisters said the Cambuslang site would require significant investment to bring it up to standard.
“We do not take this decision lightly and fully understand the impact if this proposal goes ahead,” the group said.
“We will offer affected colleagues the opportunity to take up roles at our other sites in Scotland, which we will convert from agency to permanent roles.
“In addition, we will also seek redeployment of colleagues to our other sites offering roles to anyone willing to travel or relocate to another factory.
“We are committed to our operations in Scotland and will work hard to ensure all possible options for colleagues are fully explored before any final decisions are made.”
Unite the union has hit out at the closure plan, saying workers had been told Cambuslang would shut by this summer.
Site convener Scot Walker said Unite intended to put up a fight to save the closure-earmarked facility and said the redeployment of staff from Cambuslang to Coupar Angus was not a viable option.
“Obviously we are dismayed at the news of the possible closure. But it is far too early to accept that this is the final word,” Mr Walker said.
“Unite will do everything in negotiation with the firm to find a way to safeguard the site’s future and protect jobs. What’s at stake is more than 450 jobs and the future of the local community.
“The company are saying that staff can be redeployed to other sites run by the company – like Coupar Angus.
“That is not a viable alternative which dictates the necessity of fighting to save the plant in Cambuslang.”