Scotland faces 'skills exodus' if manufacturing industry allowed to decline without government support

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Scotland faces an exodus of skilled jobs if the country's manufacturing industry is allowed to decline without government support, a union chief has warned.Derek Thomson, Scottish Regional Secretary at Unite, wants to see "transitional stakes" bought in key businesses to allow them to bring in new technologies while protecting jobs.Such a scheme would allow for the UK or Scottish Government to invest directly without the need for full nationalisation of firms.He said the alternative was a "skills exodus" with Scots workers lured to jobs down south or abroad as opportunities dried up at home.It comes at a time the country's industrial future is at a crossroads with the imminent closure of the oil refinery at Grangemouth, with the loss of more than 400 highly-skilled jobs.There is also uncertainty over the future of two fabrication yards in Methil and Arnish after owners Harland & Wolff were placed in administration for the second time in five years.Thomson told the Record he still believed the refinery at Grangemouth could remain open with the right government support in place."We are of the opinion that investment could extend the lifetime of the refinery," he said. "And one of the things we are starting to explore is the idea of the government taking a transitional stake, and what a transitional stake could look like for other areas."It's a long-term investment to a greener economy with sustainable jobs."Unite is one of two unions representing workers at Grangemouth and has made clear its anger with both SNP and Labour ministers over what it views as their passive reaction to the closure announcement.Thomson said both UK and Scottish ministers had "parroted" what refinery owners Petroineos had told them."I think they