Finance Secretary John Swinney has announced a jobs boost for Montrose pharmaceutical firm GlaxoSmithKline (GSK).
Mr Swinney was in Montrose on Monday to confirm the £1.46 million research and development grant from Scottish Enterprise to help position the Angus site as a future new product development facility, creating up to 25 new jobs and safeguarding 280.
Montrose is also one of four sites in the UK battling to become the location for a £500m bio-pharm investment by GlaxoSmithKline.
At the 67 North building, Mr Swinney said the grant was an investment in the future of the firm and Angus.
”This is a great day for Montrose at a plant which is creating wealth for the Angus economy and the Scottish economy.”
He added: ”Scotland is globally renowned for innovation, enterprise and technology.
”The quality and skills of our workforce in life sciences have played an important part in the company’s decision, as has the research excellence of our institutions and the competitiveness of our business environment.
”They are a key company working in one of the sectors the government has identified as key and there is every prospect of focused investment in this plant in the years to come.”
Mr Swinney added: ”The hard work by our partners at Scottish Enterprise and Scottish Development International also deserves praise. They have built-up an excellent understanding of this company and provided the most relevant support when required.”
GSK Montrose site director Andy Ross said: ”We are very grateful to Scottish Enterprise for all their efforts in relation to the R&D grant.
”Their financial support will allow us to provide the right people, plant and expertise at a critical time for the GSK Montrose site as we look to introduce innovative new processes so as to maintain our global cost effectiveness.
”This forms a key part of our future development and sustainability. 2012 represents 60 years in Montrose, so that is a major achievement, and on top of that we are looking forward to bringing more products and investment to the factory.
”The culture at GSK Montrose is fantastic and that holds us in good stead for winning some of the business we are looking at.”
Linda Hanna, director of company growth at Scottish Enterprise said: ”In the current economic conditions it’s critical that more companies continue to innovate so that the Scottish economy maintains its competitive edge.
”This R&D grant will allow GlaxoSmithkline to do just that, by increasing efficiencies and introducing new products to its Montrose site.
”Grant support is an integral part of the overall support from Scottish Enterprise to the company through our account management approach.
”By working closely with the management team we have developed a mutual understanding of how we can focus our help to assist them to achieve their global growth objectives through increased investment and commitment to their operations in Scotland.”
CBI Scotland’s assistant director, David Lonsdale, said: ”Grant schemes like this are a highly effective weapon in the devolved government’s armoury to encourage industry and commerce to invest, innovate and expand in Scotland.
”This is particularly so at a time when the private sector is having to lead the country back to economic health.”
Angus MP Mike Weir said: ”This grant underlines the importance of GSK’s Montrose facility not only to the local economy, but to the future of the economy of Scotland.
”Innovation in industries such as pharmaceuticals is vital in tackling the current economic situation and it is clear that GSK and the Scottish government are working well together in developing for the future.”