Stephen Flynn says fiscal regime 'destroying Scottish jobs'
In May, Harbour Energy in Aberdeen cut 250 onshore jobs, citing the Energy Profits Levy (EPL) as the reason.
READ MORE: Chancellor Rachel Reeves visits Scotland to promote defence and energy plans
The firm, which has been a vocal critic of the EPL since its introduction in 2022, blamed 'the Government's ongoing punitive fiscal position and a challenging regulatory environment'.
Following the nationalisation of Scunthorpe Steel, billions spent thus far on English nuclear power plants and the saved Prax refinery in Lincolnshire, SNP Westminster Leader Stephen Flynn has warned Rachel Reeves must protect Scottish jobs and change the damaging fiscal regime.
Commenting, Flynn said: "The Labour Party appear to have an ideological desire to sink the North Sea with a fiscal regime that is clearly costing jobs and investment, while putting at risk both energy security and the ability to actually deliver a meaningful energy transition.
READ MORE: Call for community ownership of forests to combat corporate influence
'Meantime, the very same Labour Party are happily flying in behind new airports for London and have been all too keen to write blank cheques for a steel plant in Scunthorpe, a nuclear power station at Sizewell and an oil refinery in Lincolnshire.
"The challenge for Rachel Reeves today is simple - end a fiscal regime that is destroying Scottish jobs and finally tell us how her Government intend to deliver on that pre-election promise to lower energy bills by £300.
"This week the SNP Scottish Government approved the colossal Berwick Bank offering a mere glimpse into what is possible in Scotland, just imagine what we could do in an independent country that puts Scottish energy jobs and lower bills first at every turn."
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But as most farmers are, we're a very resilient business and have managed to get through these and credit crunches and Covid, and we've survived through them. 'So, a very simple business, but very unique and exciting as well. Even for our office staff, you're not eight hours a day behind the computer. You have the excitement and the enthusiasm of an auction behind you as well. 'Covering so many sites gives us that great geography through Scotland and the different customers as well. 'The actual ownership to a company's house or shareholdings is immaterial. We're really the only custodians of the building in the market. 'It really does belong to our customers that have used it for generations.' He has been with the company 31 years. 'I've seen granddads, sons, grandsons, granddaughters all coming through now, employing them as well. 'I do believe when you've had the relationship with these customers, families for 100 years in some cases, and farmers, they're not going away. 'We've got about 18,000 customers. If we put all our sales staff in the room, we could give you a story about all of them. 'You know, because they're friends as well, because in social circles in farming, you imagine are quite small. 'We really believe in our customers and just want to do the best for them as well. 'Again, the EOT allowed that longevity. We weren't taken over by a property developer again or anything that could put that at risk.' His own story stretches back to when he was a teenager. 'I'm 48 now, so I was 17. I walked through the door as an office junior in March 95. 'It's been a tremendous journey and really enjoyable. And, you know, it generally doesn't feel like a job. 'To have the markets throughout Scotland and keeping them running and providing the platform to the farmers to allow them to sell their stock in a fair market condition has been really important to us. 'Achieving the maximum for our customers and the farmers is really what we want. 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(Image: API/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images) An East Lothian family company linked to the building of the world's oldest lighthouse and the construction of Capitol Hill in Washington DC in 1825 moved into employee ownership in September, and is already seeing benefits. Robert P Slight & Sons Limited, based in Wallyford, was sold to an employee ownership trust, which holds the shares on behalf of the company's 40 staff. The Slight family's legacy is interwoven with significant historical buildings. Ancestors were among the team who constructed the Bell Rock Lighthouse, the world's oldest surviving sea-washed lighthouse off Angus and the design and construction of more than seventy lighthouses in Chile. The Slight family name is also linked to the construction of the United States' iconic Congressional Building, Capitol Hill. Pringle Slight was project foreman responsible for overseeing the building's construction, including the famous dome. The R P Slight team together. (Image: R P Slight & Sons) His son, Robert, continued this legacy but tragically lost his life in a fall from the dome in 1861. Both are honoured in the Congressional Graveyard in Washington DC, United States, in a testament to their contribution and the enduring legacy of the skill and dedication of the Slight family. James Slight told Business HQ Monthly: 'RP Slight and Sons moved to employee ownership in 2024 for a number of reasons. 'Central to our decision, was to reward our staff and preserve our company culture and values. incorporated in 1958, RPS has a culture focused on our staff with some remaining with us long term, from apprenticeship to retirement. Although we have grown significantly, we wanted to retain this atmosphere and our traditions, and of the various options available, selling to an EOT offered the best path. 'In the time since the change was implemented, the business has undergone a noticeable gear change. Our staff feel more engaged knowing their efforts will be rewarded and directly contribute to business success. This has led to increasingly strong results on contracts and frameworks we have held, and those recently awarded.' Top repair centre is first of its kind to sell to staff The company's base. (Image: Anderson Clark) A Scottish independent motor vehicle repair company, Anderson Clark Motor Repairs, was the first of its kind to steer a new future under employee ownership in the shape of a trust formed by its 14 staff. The company has been in business for over 28 years and said it is recognised as one of the top repair centres in the UK after winning numerous independent repair centre awards and having Investor in People Gold Standard Recognition, with a turnover of £2 million. The Inverness-based business was owned by the Graham and Sheila Clark's family who remain involved as part of the transition to employee ownership. FLICK THROUGH THE DIGITAL EDITION HERE The new leadership team comprises an experienced team with Neil Johnstone, managing director designate, Katie Fraser, company secretary, and Alan Reid, workshop manager, all having been with Anderson Clark for many years. Graham Clark, founder, Anderson Clark, said: 'The EOT came about with me considering an exit strategy as I'm now mid 60s. 'I had a few options for consideration. To simply close the business and pay redundancy, but the business is very successful, that would be very expensive and jeopardise all the employee's jobs; To put the business on the open market but that caused me major concern with a new buyer not having the same business ethics as ACMR; And the conclusion of opting for the EOT, once understood, was a positive way for us to move forward.' He said that the move has 'given the staff a shared purpose and greater engagement with the business'. Strong sales follow change of ownership The T&N Gilmartin team. (Image: T&N Gilmartin) A Fife-based contractor which has been in the hands of the same family for three generations also made the move, with a workforce of around 90 becoming part-owners. T&N Gilmartin (Contractors) Ltd was founded in 1956 by Tommie Gilmartin. The firm said that under former managing director Tommy Gilmartin, son of Tommie Gilmartin, and fellow shareholder Pat Gilmartin, the company diversified and grew into what it describes as 'a successful multi-disciplined contractor and a key employer in north-east Fife'. Donna McElhinney, finance director at T&N Gilmartin, said: 'T&N Gilmartin Contractors Ltd, prior to the employee ownership trust, was a third-generation family company facing a challenge in succession planning. 'We had considered some outside acquisition offers, but ultimately felt that accepting them would have led to a loss of our company's core ethos and potentially demoralised our long-serving staff. Given these considerations, an EOT emerged as the obvious and most suitable choice for our business. 'Since the EOT was implemented, the company has gone from strength to strength. Our sales are very strong, and our staff genuinely feel they have a significant input and a vital part to play in the future success of the company. We are particularly grateful for TLT's role in this transition, their team was instrumental in making the entire EOT process as smooth as possible, and the help and advice they provided were invaluable.'
