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Image Credit: ScottishPower
ScottishPower, a Spanish-owned energy giant, has announced plans to create 1,000 direct jobs by 2025, offering a much-needed "lifeline" for Grangemouth workers who face redundancy. The company highlighted that the skills of Grangemouth workers are highly sought after as it expands electricity networks to connect low-carbon energy production to the grid.
Last month, ScottishPower revealed its ambitious £5.4 billion investment in UK transmission infrastructure. This investment is expected to generate not only 1,000 direct jobs but also "tens of thousands more" across the supply chain. It is part of the company’s drive to modernise the grid and accelerate the transition to renewable energy.
The announcement offers a glimmer of hope for workers at Grangemouth, where Petroineos—operator of Scotland’s only oil refinery—confirmed it will shut down in 2025, resulting in the loss of 400 jobs. This closure has sparked significant backlash, with Unite the Union and General Secretary Sharon Graham calling for decisive action from both the Scottish and UK governments.
Graham said: “To throw highly skilled workers at Grangemouth on the scrapheap would be a monumental act of industrial vandalism.
“Grangemouth is essential to the success of the Scottish economy, and politicians from all parties need to focus on finding a viable solution.
“Politicians from all sides need to come together and ensure a viable future for Grangemouth, not at some time in the distant future but here and now. A failure to act by either Westminster or Holyrood government will not be forgiven or forgotten.”
In a recent release, the Iberdrola-owned firm said that it is offering a “job lifeline” to those impacted by redundancies.
ScottishPower people and organisation director Sarah McNulty said: “The massive investment in electricity networks is not just good for modernising critical Scottish infrastructure but for jobs too.
“This is one of our largest ever recruitment programmes and one of the largest in Scotland. Workers at both Ineos and ISG will have the sought-after skills we are looking for, and we have the jobs to match.”
ISG is a major UK-based construction company that announced last week that 2,200 workers were made redundant with immediate effect as it fell into administration.
ScottishPower aims to assist workers during ‘concerning times’:
McNulty added that her firm appreciates that this is a “concerning time” for those facing job losses.
As a result, ScottishPower has reached out to human resource teams at ISG and Ineos to “flag our opportunities” and assist affected workers in entering new roles as quickly as possible,” the people and organisation director said.
McNulty added, “We’re also more than happy to discuss how we help people make the move into power networks from oil and gas if they’re looking for a career switch, so anyone interested should get in touch.
“These are skilled, secure, and well-paid roles that will offer a long-term career helping build, operate, and maintain the electricity network across central southern Scotland. We also have roles across our renewables business.”
In January, the company announced its “biggest issued contract opportunity ever” through its subsidiary SP Energy Networks.
At the time, ScottishPower chief executive officer Keith Anderson said the firm is delivering “the largest overhaul of the grid since its inception”.
The agreement with 19 suppliers includes up to £3bn on new overhead lines and £2.4bn on new and upgraded substations.
Efforts to address the Grangemouth crisis have drawn mixed reactions. Unite criticised the UK government’s promises of support as "smoke and mirrors," prompting calls for concrete action. Meanwhile, Labour Party leaders pledged solidarity with Grangemouth workers, pointing to a £100 million joint support package announced in October by the Scottish and UK governments.
The Grangemouth Future Industry Board convened recently with UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband and Scottish Cabinet Secretary Gillian Martin in attendance. Their discussions aimed to map a sustainable path forward for the region, emphasising industrial transformation and workforce support.
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