Nicola Sturgeon vows action to save Texas Instruments jobs
The Scottish Government will leave no stone unturned'' to save hundreds of jobs at an electronics plant facing closure, the First Minister has said.
Semiconductor firm Texas Instruments (TI) said the phased closure of its Inverclyde base would involve moving production to sites in Germany, Japan and the United States over the next three years.
If the Greenock plant closes, 365 jobs will be impacted across manufacturing, engineering, support and management positions.
Speaking at First Minister's Questions at Holyrood, Nicola Sturgeon said: I appreciate that this will be an extremely worrying time for employees of Texas Instruments and their families.''
The firm wants to sell and transfer the facility as an ongoing manufacturing operation (manufacturing-related jobs, equipment, land and building).
Any potential job losses were not anticipated to happen before late 2017.
Ms Sturgeon added: That does mean we have an important window of opportunity to work with the company to do everything we can to help find a buyer that will maintain jobs in Greenock.''
She said the Scottish Government will be fully engaged'' in supporting a task force set up by Councillor Stephen McCabe, leader of Inverclyde Council.
Business Minister Fergus Ewing has already written to Mr McCabe proposing a meeting on Monday, she said.
Ms Sturgeon added: We will do everything we can to preserve this company and the jobs in it.''