Axed paper firm staff in £6 million support deal

A TASKFORCE set up after a paper-making firm went into administration with hundreds of job losses is to receive £6 million from the Scottish Government.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced the establishment of the Joint Taskforce for Fife after Tullis Russell Papermakers, based at Markinch, called in administrators this week.

A total of 325 employees were made redundant, with a further 149 jobs at risk.

The company had experienced a long-term decline in its market and cumulative losses of £18.5m over the last five years.

The taskforce will work with administrators to try to find an alternative owner for the plant and provide support for workers to help them back into new jobs and training.

It will hold its first meeting tomorrow.

Deputy First Minister John Swinney, who visited the plant yesterday, said: “This is a very anxious time for the workers at Tullis Russell, their families, and indeed, the wider community across Fife.

“Particularly in a small town the size of Markinch, the potential impact of these job losses cannot be underestimated.

“We are, therefore, making an immediate and initial financial investment of £6m to support the work of the Fife taskforce.

“This money will provide additional support for skills development, training and support for local businesses.

“It will help support the creation of new jobs, and especially to help with skills retraining.”

Fife Council leader David Ross said the closure has had a “devastating” impact on families.

“This initial investment of £6m is a welcome start and will go some way to helping regenerate the area and begin the process of creating more jobs for local people,” he said.

“However, undoubtedly more investment will be needed to make sure Fife’s economy continues to thrive.”