This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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New factory helps disabled into work
11/01/2002
A new Remploy factory in Wishaw that will provide much-needed employment for people with disabilities, was officially opened today.
Further expansion is already on the cards for the Wishaw site which will incorporate Remploy Scotland's HQ later this year.
Opening the factory, First Minister Jack McConnell said:
"People with disabilities deserve the same opportunities in life as others in society and Remploy factories allow them to put their talents to good use, while increasing their sense of self-worth and allowing them to become more confident and develop new skills.
"Remploy has had a presence in Lanarkshire for over 50 years, providing valuable jobs and training for disabled people who might not otherwise be able to gain employment. I am delighted to welcome them to Wishaw and look forward to seeing their continued expansion.
"The new Wishaw factory will allow Remploy Lanarkshire to grow into new areas of the manufacturing and service sectors. This factory already employs almost 80 people with disabilities from the local community and this should grow when the site expands later this year.
"Throughout Scotland, Remploy is making a valuable contribution to furthering social inclusion and employment opportunities for all by tapping into the talents of people who might otherwise come up against barriers in the job market."
Remploy has been manufacturing in Lanarkshire since 1949. It has recently relocated from Shields Road, Motherwell to Excelsior Park, Wishaw. The new site covers 30,000 ft 2 at present and later this year Remploy intends to open another 6000 ft 2 on the site. The Scottish HQ will provide support to the 10 Remploy sites in Scotland, plus a new learning and development centre.
Employees are recruited under the Government's WORKSTEP programme which aims to provide support in jobs for people with disabilities who have more complex barriers to finding and keeping work but who, with the right support, are able to make a valuable contribution in their job.
Remploy is a Non Departmental Public Body operating as a commercial company, limited by guarantee and is sponsored by the Employment Service. The company receives an annual grant of £94 million from the UK Government to enable it to employ disabled people in the WORKSTEP programme throughout Great Britain.