Harris skills opportunity

Opportunities for mainland companies from Harris workforce 11/8/14

SNP MP Angus Brendan MacNeil hopes a mainland company would take over the closing GSH base in Harris and save jobs of redundant staff.

The MP has met with former employees of the GSH Group in Tarbert. He believes they would be a great resource for a large company, perhaps in the oil industry, to provide high quality, skilled back-office functions.

Speaking after meeting with representatives of the workforce, SNP MP Angus Brendan MacNeil said:

“There is an opportunity for a company requiring skilled staff for back-office functions, an off-the-peg option and skilled team, that have formed in Harris over the last decade, working to asset management “Maximo” software, a well-known standard in many industries.

“The centre in Harris has high-end skills in human resources work, planning work and compliance work for contracts. Indeed they can provide an off-the-peg option of a full back-office operation for any company looking to recruit in these areas and in a lower cost environment than usually found in large cities.

“This together with excellent broadband services in Tarbert, means that the workforce and their skills are as close as any office down the corridor.”

Mr Macneil added: “I hope that the skills that have been built up in Harris, will through the efforts of myself and others, find a company or group who are in need of these services and make the perfect match where we can deliver a win-win situation.

“It is certainly a source of concern to lose such a valued skills base and I hope it is short-term but there are also a number of young women working here, who are exactly the demography we want to keep in our islands.

“I will also be writing to the Scottish Government asking that some of the requirements in this field that will inevitably come with independence can be placed in Harris. The tangible opportunities of independence should be felt early on in our island communities such as the Isle of Harris.

“Meanwhile, any companies interested in utilising this excellent workforce can contact me through my Stornoway constituency office (Telephone 01851 702272) where I will put them in contact with a long established and skilled workforce.