Renewables boom offers a‘major opportunity’

A MAJOR Fife energy firm yesterday revealed it expects to eventually triple its workforce as it cashes in on the renewables boom, writes David Clegg, political editor.

John Robertson, managing director of Bifab, told MSPS the sector is opening up a “tremendous opportunity” and should eventually create thousands of jobs in Scotland.

The firm is a key player in Scotland’s potentially multibillion-pound renewables revolution and operates in three sites: Burntisland, Methil Energy Park and the Arnish Fabrication Yard on the Isle of Lewis.

It employs 400 staff across the sites but, giving evidence to the Scottish Par- liament’s energy committee, Mr Robertson said that could eventually increase to 1,200.

He said: “We’ve never had this opportunity before in the manufacturing industry. When the renewables trickles in, when we get to 2014, 2015, when it really starts to happen, we will be comfortably employing over 1,200 people across the three sites and a large percentage of that 1,200 people will be permanent employees.

“This a major opportunity for Scotland. We need to make sure we maximise it. If we don’t, we should all be shot.”

He also argued that recruiting for renewables work is “easier” than for the oil and gas sector.

Bifab builds renewable energy devices but also does fabrication work for oil and gas firms.

Mr Robertson added: “Renewables is a tremendous opportunity, and it’s long term. The oil and gas industry is very cyclical. It’s peaks and troughs. They’re continually down-manning.

“The one thing renewables can bring to Scotland is continuity of employment; investment over a long period of time.

“With the investment we are needing to make, we need to be very confident we are taking a long term view. Then we can develop this industry to where it should be and create the jobs, the opportunities.”

Mr Robertson is pictured after giving evidence yesterday.,