Support for staff afterfirm goesbust
The leader of North Lanarkshire Council has expressed his concern at the closure of Wishaw-based mechanical and electrical contracting specialist Weir & McQuiston.
Over 90 employees have been made redundant in the run-up to Christmas following the news that the company has plunged into administration.
Now N L C l e a d e r, Ji m Logue, has called the news “concerning”.
He told the Wishaw Press: “It’s a well-known family firm that has been going for over 40 years and employing nearly 100 staff based at Netherton.
“The instability of the current financial climate has made it more challenging for many businesses to weather the storm even though the company has recently diversified into different industry sectors such as renewables to extend its offer.
“This is now a very unsettling time for the workers and their families and the council is looking to engage with management at the firm to consider programmes such as Partnership Action f or Continuing Employment (PACE).
“We can also offer employability support through Routes to Work where staff can look at retraining, reskilling or consider another job.
“Business Gateway can also offer support for staff who are interested in going into self-employment. We will work with our partners to ensure that all the potential support is made available to the company and its employees.
“The industrial space at Netherton continues to be an area that is in demand to a range of businesses and we are hopeful that there will be continued interest in the former premises.
“But our priority at the moment is to offer support to staff to get back into work and we are hopeful that there are local businesses who could benefit from the electrical and mechanical skills and experience drawn from the staff at Weir & McQuiston.”
PACE provides a multiagency response service for staff affected and provides support and advice on dealing with the redundancy process; the provision of practical advice to help secure a new job; assistance to identify learning and training opportunities; support to access benefits employees may be entitled to; and advice on setting up a business.