Will Michelin plant closures have a Silva lining?
13 Dec 2023
New work opportunities promised at repurposed sites amid loss of hundreds of tire manufacturing jobs
London - Michelin’s announcement of three plant closures and other cutbacks in Germany, involving over 1,500 job cuts (ERJ report), came with a suggestion that all was not lost for the workers and local communities affected.
Expressing its commitment to communities and regions, Michelin said it “will explore all relevant options for the transformation of the affected sites to support the creation of new jobs.”
The French group has used this same line in announcing previous factory closures – most notably, perhaps, ahead of the 2020 shutdown of its 845-employee tire plant in Dundee, Scotland.
That ‘rescue plan’ developed into a joint venture with Scottish authorities to transform the Dundee site into a location for employment and economic development in the region.
The stated goal of the Michelin-Scotland Innovation Parc project was to “open up opportunities in manufacturing, remanufacturing, recycling and low-carbon transport.”
But it remains to be seen whether projects such as MSIP can really make up for the loss of hundreds of high-quality manufacturing jobs.
In a statement to ERJ, MSIP said it had delivered “151 jobs so far... with the outlook for this to grow to 500 over the next two years with the arrival of larger-scale manufacturing organisations.”
However, MSIP did not provide details about the types of jobs – whether direct or indirect, full-time or part-time, long-term or short-term etc – or the organisations involved.
The statement did list the employer-sectors involved as including:
- Battery manufacture
- Energy efficiency consulting
- Electric vehicle transport
- Renewable technology skills provision
- Hospitality
- Occupational Health
- Facilities management
- Business support
- Solar energy
Another marker for MSIP's progress was the official opening of a GBP5-million Innovation Hub at the Dundee site in November.
The hub, which includes the Silva Spoons Café, was described as “key” to the regeneration of the former manufacturing facility.
Sarah Petrie, operations and innovation director at MSIP, commented: “This is a huge step in our journey at Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc.
“With the Hub and Cafe now open for business, I can’t wait to welcome innovators, businesses, learners and the community to find out more about this amazing space, to hot-desk, meet people and host events.”
So, it seems, the next couple of years will tell to what extent MSIP can provide the jobs that really compensate for the closure of Michelin's tire plant in Dundee.
