Research supported by Northumbria
University, Newcastle, has found that the majority of workers surveyed at a
Rolls Royce aerospace plant in Scotland have not found re-employment since
losing their jobs earlier this year.
More than 700 highly skilled engineering jobs were lost at the
Inchinnan manufacturing plant in Renfrewshire following a decision by Rolls
Royce to significantly scale back its operation in the wake of Covid-19 and the
subsequent economic slowdown. Co researcher Dr Ewan Mackenzie, from
Northumbria’s Newcastle Business School, believes the failure to secure
alternative employment is hugely significant in an economy hit by the Covid-19
crisis.
The research was commissioned by trade union Unite Scotland and conducted in September-October with 100 survey responses
giving a statistically significant sample size. It was led by Professor
Alan McKinlay at Newcastle University and supported by Dr Mackenzie at Northumbria
and colleagues at The University of Glasgow and Newcastle University.
An overwhelming majority of those surveyed reported
their preference was to remain in manufacturing after taking voluntary
severance. A significant minority of employees reported that they would like to
work in the renewable energy sector, specifically wind turbines. However,
despite their high level of skill they recognised that they may need retraining
in new skills, which would require further qualifications and certification to
shift into the renewables sector.
Dr Mackenzie said: “This
research reveals that hundreds of the UK’s most skilled engineers are currently
out of work and are fearful for their future. Many of these workers are suited
to transitioning to the renewable sector and expressed an interest in doing so.
The research highlights that there is an appetite for such a transition
with adequate training and government support, without which the UK risks
losing cutting-edge engineering skills and proficiencies developed over
decades”.
The research suggests both that the Rolls Royce job
losses are not being absorbed by the Scottish aerospace sector, and that for
the majority who have been made redundant any alternative jobs in
manufacturing are less likely to utilise their full range of skills and
experience.
Pat Rafferty, Unite Scottish Secretary, added: “Rolls Royce
engineers are widely recognised to be highly skilled, highly experienced and
amongst the most outstanding engineering workforces in the UK. What this new
research has discovered is that the vast majority of Rolls Royce workers who
have left Inchinnan remain out of work with most of them remaining fearful for
their future employment prospects. Importantly, there is a desire by those who
have left Rolls Royce to move into the renewables sector. However, this
requires two fundamental elements which is jobs actually being created in the
renewables sector in particular through the manufacturing of wind
turbines, and skills transition support.
“On these specific issues the Scottish Government’s
record has been absolutely abject and they need to urgently intervene to
provide concrete support for workers who have lost their jobs. If they do not
then this research illustrates that there is a real danger these
crucial skills will be lost forever.”
Notes to editors:
The research
was conducted by Ewan Gibbs (1), Ewan Mackenzie (2), Alan McKinlay (3), Des
McNulty (1), Jim Phillips (1) and Stephen Procter (3), University of Glasgow
(1), Northumbria University (2) and Newcastle University (3).
