The Scottish Government has announced the launch of the Grangemouth Jobs Prioritisation Scheme, developed in partnership with Unite the Union.

The scheme will ensure that workers made redundant following the refinery closure are prioritised for roles created through the Scottish Government's £25 million Grangemouth Just Transition Fund.

Under the scheme, all Scottish Enterprise grant awards from the Fund will include a new clause making it conditional for recipient businesses to participate. This will ensure that eligible Grangemouth workers are given priority during the recruitment process.

First Minister John Swinney emphasised the move: "The Grangemouth Jobs Prioritisation Scheme - developed in partnership with Unite – is a concrete example of this, helping workers secure new opportunities and ensuring that their vital experience, skills and knowledge are not lost to Grangemouth and to Scotland. This is a just transition in action."

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The initiative is a crucial step in supporting the just transition to a low-carbon economy, securing Grangemouth's future by supporting businesses that bring forward new propositions.

Susan Fitzgerald, Unite Secretary, welcomed the approach: "The Grangemouth pilot scheme will apply conditionalities to companies in receipt of public sector funding, which will include a job interview guarantee for eligible workers. We understand this approach is a first across the UK."

This means construction and clean energy development firms receiving investment through the Fund must adhere to the new recruitment rules, ensuring public money directly supports local livelihoods and retains skilled workers within Scotland as the area moves towards cleaner energies.

Unite is now calling for urgency in delivering the promised new jobs and investment to achieve a genuine Just Transition.