Minister for Business and Fair Work meets Forth Green Freeport to discuss its role in the transition of Grangemouth

The Forth Green Freeport (FGF) welcomed Tom Arthur MSP, Minister for Business and Fair Work, to Forth Valley College in Falkirk to take part in an engaging roundtable discussion with Grangemouth stakeholders on the Freeport's role in driving industrial transformation, supporting Scotland's net zero ambitions, attracting inward investment and creating high-quality employment opportunities.

Forth Green Freeport partners including Forth Ports, INEOS, CalaChem, Forth Valley College, Scottish Enterprise and Falkirk Council took part in the roundtable alongside the Minister, discussing the role the FGF is playing in a number of different projects across their respective organisations and how the FGF’s activities align with Scottish Government priorities across the economy, skills and net zero.

Discussions also covered key enablers of success, including infrastructure, innovation, workforce development, fair work and collaboration between industry, education providers, enterprise agency and government partners.

The Minister was also able to tour some of the facilities within Forth Valley College, learning about the innovative work currently taking place on areas such as cutting-edge industry training and prioritising both the skills of today, and the skills of tomorrow.

FGF became operational on 12 June 2024 and over the next 25 years is set to attract new businesses and new jobs into Burntisland, Grangemouth, Leith and Rosyth, aided by a suite of tax and custom incentives to deliver real benefits for Scotland and the UK. 

A detailed economic impact assessment has projected that FGF will generate £7.9 billion of private and public investment and boost GVA (gross value added) by £8.1 billion. The analysis projected that up to 16,000 well paid, skilled jobs, could be created directly in the FGF’s target sectors and tax sites.

Sarah Murray, Chief Executive at Forth Green Freeport said: “It was a pleasure to welcome the Minister for Business and Fair Work to Falkirk as we discussed some of the key activities currently taking place in Grangemouth as part of the Forth Green Freeport’s ambition for the region and how we will continue our positive, collaborative relationship with The Scottish Government.

“Forth Valley College is a fantastic example of innovation and skills development, helping students make key contributions to the local and national economy in their future careers. We look forward to working with the Minister and his team as the Forth Green Freeport continues to move forward in full delivery mode.”

Scottish Government Minister for Business and Fair Work, Tom Arthur MSP, said: “This discussion highlighted the important role that Forth Green Freeport can play in helping to deliver a just transition for workers, communities and businesses across the Firth of Forth, including Grangemouth. The Green Freeport programme is designed to attract investment, drive innovation and create high-quality jobs while supporting Scotland's net zero ambitions. 

“It was particularly valuable to hear directly from industry, education and public sector partners about how they are working together to realise those opportunities. The Scottish Government is working closely with Forth Green Freeport to ensure that they deliver maximum positive impact as soon as possible.”

Kenny MacInnes, Principal of Forth Valley College, said: “Forth Valley College has a vital role to play in supporting the Grangemouth Just Transition and ensuring local people and businesses are equipped for the opportunities ahead.

“This visit provided an opportunity to showcase some of the amazing facilities and learning environments available across our campus, including those within the new Skills Transition Centre (STC), funded through the Falkirk and Grangemouth Growth Deal. The STC will help learners develop the skills needed for sustainable employment in emerging low-carbon industries while supporting workforce development, business productivity and innovation.

“Through collaboration with industry and partners, we are helping to build a skilled, diverse workforce ready to meet Scotland’s future economic and sustainability ambitions.”

To deliver the ambitious vision of FGF, a strong team is in place with a focus on attracting investment across the FGF while ensuring strong governance and adherence to the FGF’s Fair Work and Net Zero charters.