Holyrood Back Tullis Russell Bid

£150,000 of Government funding has been given to an employee-led bid to buy part of Tullis Russell.

The paper mill announced that it was closing earlier this year, threatening nearly 500 jobs. If successful, the employee bid would secure 10 jobs.

The money comes from £2m of funding being given to business and regeneration projects, announced by the Fife Taskforce.

Fife Council Leader Cllr David Ross, said:

"I am pleased with what has been achieved to date through the Task Force, but the job is by no means finished. There are still significant numbers of workers directly affected by the Tullis Russell and other closures who require our continued support, and that will be forthcoming. 

"We also have much to do to support the creation of alternative employment opportunities in the Glenrothes and wider Fife area to replace the jobs lost at Tullis Russell and elsewhere.

"We are making progress on this and I would like to thank all those from public, private and voluntary sectors who are making valuable contributions to this work."

The projects being allocated money are:

• Queensway Green Technology Park. Support for plans for the regeneration of Queensway Industrial Estate to develop a modern business and technology park which can utilise the proximity to RWE’s Biomass Power Generation facility - £1,170,000

• Glenrothes Paper Limited. Assistance for an employee-led bid to buy part of Tullis Russell, safeguarding 10 skilled manufacturing and production jobs in central Fife - £150,000

• Glenrothes Enterprise Hub. Creating a dedicated “one-stop shop” approach to develop an entrepreneurial culture and improve overall performance of new enterprises in the local economy - £500,000

• Community Regeneration in Central Fife. Projects developed with Fife Council to provide support for the communities most affected by the closure of Tullis Russell. This includes town centre improvements, support for community groups, support for the Tullis Russell Mills Band and a retail showcase and education centre - £250,000