Scottish wind turbine tower maker CS Wind UK has entered into a period of consultation with staff and trade union Unite regarding potential job cuts at its Campbeltown manufacturing facility.
The company, which employs 94 workers, said up to 80% of staff could go at the UK’s only facility that manufactures onshore and offshore wind towers.
In a statement, CS Wind said there is a “significant gap” in its offshore tower build schedule before its next potential order is due for production in summer 2020 following the completion of work for the East Anglia 1 and Moray East projects.
“Whilst work continues to secure new orders and the company is actively in discussion with relevant parties to bring forward the production schedule for an onshore project, it has to be recognised that the lead times associated with such major projects can be significant,” the company said.
“Regrettably, at this stage, it appears that there will need to be reductions to the existing headcount across both shop floor production and office-based staff in the coming months,” it added.
CS Wind meanwhile said the onshore wind market is “extremely challenging to the supply chain due to the very low market price and low volume of projects being built”.
The company is working with Unite, Argyll & Bute Council, Highland and Islands Enterprise, Scottish Engineering and the UK and Scottish governments to find “effective solutions and to support the workforce and wider local community impacted.”
Unite regional industrial officer Charlie Macdonald said: “There needs to be urgent intervention by the Scottish government because if the scale of these job losses goes unchallenged not only is there is a major cloud over the future of the factory in Campbeltown but also over Scotland’s green manufacturing capacity.”