First meeting: Michelin Dundee Action Group

Work to find a sustainable future for the Michelin Dundee plant is now underway – after Scotland’s Economy Secretary Derek Mackay convened the first meeting of the Michelin Dundee Action Group yesterday. Meeting in Dundee, Mackay tasked the group with exploring what can be done to retain the plant in Dundee and how it could be repurposed in the future towards manufacturing related activity.

Mackay said that it would take a “monumental effort to get the outcome we want” but that the group – made up of representatives of Michelin, the trade union, local and national government and individuals with manufacturing and business expertise, were focused on the task ahead.

Speaking after the meeting, Mackay said: “Today I convened the first meeting of the Michelin Dundee Action group and reiterated the Scottish Government’s commitment to leave no stone unturned in our efforts to find a viable and sustainable future for the plant and its workforce.

“We had a really positive discussion today with Michelin, the trade union, Dundee City Council, UK government and manufacturing and business experts, and everyone is absolutely focused on the task ahead,” he continued. “In the coming weeks, the Michelin Dundee Action Group will continue to work diligently to explore all options available and provide the company with a proposition that demonstrates a commercial way forward for them to retain a significant presence in Dundee or how the plant could be repurposed for the future.

“We will continue to work closely with John Reid and his team at Michelin Dundee to put together a proposal for the future – one that recognises that the rationale for the decision includes issues such as low-cost imports coming into the market and the cost of production. This work will proceed at pace over the coming weeks,” added Mackay. “It is important that the Tay City Deal goes ahead as planned without dilution but with increased determination to support the region. The Scottish government has already committed £200 million to the Tay City Deal and have called on the UK government to match that commitment by providing an additional £50 million.

“We look forward to signing the heads of terms agreement in the coming days.”

The following people attended the first meeting of the Michelin Action Group:

• Derek Mackay, Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Economy and Fair Work
• Joint Chair, Steve Dunlop, Chief Executive, Scottish Enterprise
• Joint Chair, Councillor John Alexander, Council Leader, Dundee City Council
• David Mundell, Secretary of State for Scotland
• Jamie Hepburn, Minister for Business, Fair Work and Skills
• Ivan McKee, Minister for Trade, Investment and Innovation
• John Reid, Site Director, Michelin Dundee
• Marc Jackson, Michelin Dundee Site Convenor, Unite
• Dougie Maguire, Unite Regional Co-ordinating Officer
• Bob Macgregor, Regional officer, Unite
• Davie Brady, Michelin Dundee Branch Convenor, Unite
• Ellis Watson, Chair of Tay Cities Enterprise Forum
• Tim Allan, Deputy Chair of the Tay Cities Enterprise Forum and President of Scottish Chambers of Commerce
• Professor Keith Ridgway, Executive Chair of the Advanced Forming Research Centre at the University of Strathclyde
• Alison Henderson, Chief Executive of Dundee Chamber of Commerce
• Alison Duffy, NCR Dundee Director, Enterprise Data Governance and Architecture
• Damien Yeates, Chief Executive of Skills Development Scotland

In the coming days and weeks, advice will be sought from a range of Manufacturing Leaders including Dr Hamid Mughal, co-chair of the Strategic Leadership Group of the National Manufacturing Institute for Scotland. Membership of the group will develop as the work is undertaken with all relevant Ministers playing a full part.