GBP1mln Grant to Create 100 Jobs at Ferguson Shipyard
The last commercial shipyard on the Clyde, Scotland, has secured grant to help safeguard 125 jobs and create a further 100. Ferguson shipyard has been awarded a £1m grant to refurbish its Port Glasgow premises and help fund new jobs. Ferguson Marine Engineering Ltd (FMEL) received the grant from Scottish Enterprise which will boost the number of full time staff from 150 to 250 at Port Glasgow. The Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) funding will contribute to Ferguson Marine's redevelopment of its premises and investment in new state of the art equipment. Last month, Ferguson was awarded a £97m Scottish government contract to build two new ferries. The firm was saved from administration last year by Jim McColl's Clyde Blowers Capital.
Ferguson to Build Two CalMac Ferries
Scottish minister Nicola Sturgeon have named Ferguson shipyard as the preferred bidder for a £97 million contract for the biggest new ferries on the Clyde since 2001 in a deal that could secure more than 150 jobs. The move will provide boost for shipbuilding in the civilian shipyard on the River Clyde Ferguson Marine Engineering Limited (FMEL) and the local economy around a year after the owners of the shipyard went into administration. Ferguson was taken over by Clyde Blowers billionaire and former Scottish independence supporter Jim McColl last year. The two new ships will both be approximately 330ft long and capable of 16 knots with space for 127 cars or 16 HGV’s or a combination of both and up to 1000 passengers.
Fergusons Shipbuilders Takeover: Preferred Bidder
The Scottish Government informs that KPMG has announced that Clyde Blowers Capital is to be the preferred bidder for the group’s business and its assets. “I am delighted that Clyde Blowers Capital has been named the preferred bidder for the Fergusons yard. Jim McColl’s company is one of Scotland’s greatest job creators, and I will be meeting with the company, the workforce and shop stewards to ensure there will be a long-term future for shipbuilding at Fergusons for years to come. “The task force has been working hard to ensure that shipbuilding at Fergusons is maintained.
