TRADE unions and politicians have welcomed the news that nearly 300 jobs are to be created at a bought-out yard in Fife for the manufacture of wind-turbine foundations.

Burntisland Fabrications (BiFab), which has yards in Burntisland and Methil in Fife as well as one on the Isle of Lewis, went into administration at the end of last year after Scottish government ministers ruled out nationalising the company.

Harland and Wolff took over the Methil and Lewis sites in February following an £850,000 deal.

The new owner has now been awarded a contract for the fabrication, consolidation and load-out of turbine foundations at the Methil plant, which will create 290 jobs from July 1. 

Bosses at Harland and Wolff say this contract “paves the way for the execution and delivery of future fabrication contracts,” a significant number of which are “in advanced negotiations.”

Trade union leaders in Scotland have said the announcement is “vindication of the relentless campaigning of workers in Fife and the Western Isles as well as the tenacity of the unions.” 

Scottish Trades Union Congress general secretary Roz Foyer said: “We have always said that there can and must be a future for the construction part of the renewables supply chain in Scotland. This provides some hope.

“It is, of course, one small part of what must develop into an industrial strategy for Scotland that ends the off-shoring of supply chain work and creates a plan for jobs.”

In a joint statement, Unite and GMB Scottish secretaries Pat Rafferty and Gary Smith added: “A working yard is better than an empty yard, but it has to be the first step in a long journey of investment and contracts for our offshore wind supply chain.

“We need to take the opportunity now to work together and set out an industrial plan for Scotland’s future, the vital ingredient that has been missing since devolution — we can’t succeed without it.” 

Politicians in the area also said that the development is significant, but that more needs to follow for Scotland to transform the energy sector. 

Scottish Greens energy spokesperson Mark Ruskel said: “This is a significant foot in the door for the Fife yard after years of uncertainty. 

“Scotland’s vast resource of offshore wind is ready to be harnessed, but both the British and Scottish governments must ensure that all projects have a high percentage of Scottish-built kit as a condition of approval.”