Michelin tyres plant

Finance and Economy Secretary Derek Mackay has held urgent talks with trade unions and the management of Michelin Tyres to discuss the future of the Dundee plant, following confirmation by Michelin that they have decided to close the plant in 2020.  

During the meeting, Mr Mackay announced he will convene an action group of interested parties to explore all options to secure a sustainable future for the site. Michelin confirmed they will look in detail at any proposals for the future of the plant that are brought forward by the action group or trade unions.

The Cabinet Secretary spent the day in Dundee meeting with representatives of the workforce, trade unions and Dundee City Council and confirmed that the Scottish Government and enterprise agencies stand ready to provide support for the plant and its workforce at this difficult time.

Speaking from Dundee, Mr Mackay said the Scottish Government will leave no stone unturned and will do all it can to protect the workforce.

Derek Mackay said:

“This announcement is devastating not just for those who work at the Michelin plant, but for their families and the whole of the city of Dundee. But the message from the Scottish Government is clear: Dundee is a hugely vibrant city and a great place for businesses to invest, to grow and to develop and the Scottish Government will do all we can to secure a future for the plant and the workforce.

“I have met members of Michelin’s Group Executive and they have agreed to consider a proposition that we will bring forward, to secure a sustainable future for the plant.   

“I will be convening an action group to explore all options to secure a future for the plant and its highly-skilled workforce.  I will chair an initial meeting in Dundee on Monday with the action plan being taken forward by Steve Dunlop, chief executive of Scottish Enterprise, and council leader John Alexander. 

“Having spoken to the council, the unions, local politicians and UK Government, I am confident there is a shared desire to work together to secure the best possible future for the site and its workforce. At the same time we will work with the unions and the local management to provide the best possible support to the workforce at this very difficult time.

“We have been working with Tay partners to complete the arrangements for the £300 million Tay Cities deal and an additional £50 million package. We stand ready to move forward with the Tay City Deal as soon as possible and call on the UK Government to bring forward additional measures and investment, in light of Michelin’s announcement.

“Dundee has undergone a major transformation in recent years and a great place to do business. The Scottish Government will work with everyone across Dundee in our efforts to ensure there continues to be a vibrant future for manufacturing in Dundee.”

John Alexander leader of Dundee City Council said:

"This is a body blow for every person who currently works at the Michelin Plant, but as a city we have proved time and again that we rally around and stand together when times get tough.

"We are absolutely committed to putting in the effort with the workforce, the decision-makers at Michelin, the Scottish Government and other partners in Dundee and beyond to achieve a positive outcome.

"We welcome the leadership shown by the Scottish Government in creating an action group and ensuring there is a robust response to this difficult situation. The council will be an active participant in the group and help to investigate every possible avenue to ensure that Michelin continues be a part of our economic future."