Workers who were made redundant after the Dunne Group went into administration have been offered employment support…
Some 524 UK workers were made redundant after the Dunne Group went into administration. The firm, which has its head office in Bathgate, West Lothian, ceased work on Tuesday 19 July. The folding of the firm saw 200 jobs lost in Scotland alone, with just 16 employees to be retained to assist with the closure. Administrator FRP Advisory was appointed after the business ran into financial difficulties.
Now, former Dunne Group workers are being offered help to find work via a series of events. Skills Development Scotland (SDS) will provide one-to-one support to those affected by the company folding.
Events will be held on the 28 July and 2 August at Business Gateway in Broxburn’s Greendykes Road. These sessions have been organised by Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE), the Scottish government’s redundancy support services. PACE will also provide support for those seeking to retrain or start their own business.
Minister for Business, Innovation and Energy Paul Wheelhouse said: “I was very concerned to learn of the sudden developments at Dunne Group and the impact this will have on the employees, their families and, potentially, the surrounding areas.
“Through our PACE initiative, we have worked closely with the administrators FRP, since the announcement, to provide support to employees who were made redundant with immediate effect.”
Wheelhouse added: “I would strongly urge all those people affected by the developments at Dunne Group to attend the drop-in events which the local PACE team has arranged and to take advantage of the advice and support that is available.”
Donald Lumsden, area manager for SDS, said: “The closure of Dunne Group is being felt very widely as staff are based not just in West Lothian but right across the central belt.
“As part of the PACE response, these drop in sessions will show those affected the sort of help that’s available, from job hunting and careers advice to information on training and learning.
“Anyone affected is welcome to attend at any point on July 28 or August 2.”
Lumsden added: “With staff being spread across such a wide area, those who are unable to attend in West Lothian should remember that support is also available at their local SDS centre.
“Losing your job in these circumstances can come as a great shock at any time, so I’d encourage all those affected to make use of the support that’s available.”