The Scottish and UK government are to set up a working group to explore options for supporting fabrication company BiFab.
Holyrood Economy Secretary Fiona Hyslop said the agreement came after she met with Michael Gove, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.
“I met this morning with the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to discuss the issues facing BiFab. This was a constructive discussion, and we agreed to form a joint UK and Scottish Government working group, to ensure all possible options are explored,” said Hyslop.
The minister was commenting in parliament after the Scottish government, which is a minority shareholder in BiFab, refused to provide a guarantee last month for the company in connection with the supply of eight jackets for the 450MW Neart na Gaoithe project.
“As a minority shareholder, we have been exhaustive in our consideration of the options available to us to financially support BiFab from public funds and we will continue to explore all options,” she told MSPs.
“The UK Government shares our view of the challenges presented by State aid rules, but we will work together to do what we can.”
Hyslop added she was “disappointed” by majority BiFab shareholder JV Driver “lack of financial investment in the business and the zero risk position it has adopted as majority shareholder”.
She added: “This stance is a key factor in the situation which the business now faces.”