Scotland’s First Minister has toured one of the most successful manufacturing facilities in Europe and praised to its 240 staff.

More than half the workers at Royal Strathclyde Blindcraft Industries (RSBi) in Springburn, Glasgow, have a disability.

First Minister Alex Salmond said: "Jobs are this government’s top priority, and a major part of that is investing in workforce training and development.

"Employers, workers, union and communities working in partnership with government to promote workplace learning benefits all of us – which is why it’s so important to recognise achievements like those of the STUC award winners at Royal Strathclyde Blindcraft Industries here in Springburn.

"Scottish Union Learning is supported financially by the Scottish Government and I’m proud of what our efforts are helping to achieve. But of course, the real credit lies with the staff here who work so hard to develop not only their own personal potential but the effectiveness of their teams. Each and every one of them has my very best wishes."

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RSBi is operated by City Building, Glasgow City Council’s arm’s-length construction firm.

City Building managing director John Foley said: "The First Minister’s visit today is recognition of the great job our staff are doing every day at RSBi, producing quality products for the public, private and third sectors.

"RSBi is a commercially successful organisation because we continue to adapt our product range to suit the evolving needs of our customers. That’s why we can employ 240 people here in Springburn. RSBi is not run as a charity but as a thriving social enterprise."

Community Union – the largest trade union within RSBi – provides funding for a range of training courses via the Scottish Union Learning Fund, which is administered by the STUC.

Many RSBi staff have benefitted from training through the Fund, which has brought a direct economic benefit to individual employees and to the company as a whole.

Grahame Smith, STUC General Secretary, said: "The STUC Union Rep Awards highlight the invaluable contribution that trade union members make in the workplace."

The First Minister’s visit came about after Robert Mooney, a development officer at RSBi, was awarded the STUC One Workplace Equality Award by the First Minister in November 2011.

A registered blind person, Robert invited the First Minister to visit his workplace and witness the state-of-the-art manufacturing taking place at RSBi.

RSBi has had a presence in Glasgow for more than 200 years. The business has continued to evolve to meet the changing needs of the marketplace and currently specialises in manufacturing a wide range of products for a broad customer base across the public, private and third sectors.

(GK)