Murdo Fraser MSP has expressed his disappointment with OVO Energy due to uncertainty over the future of its Perth workforce.
OVO recently announced that they will close its office in the Fair City, resulting in concerns from its workforce and from local politicians.
Mr Fraser made his views clear on the issue during a recent Members’ Business Motion at Holyrood, in which he said that OVO has broken a promise it made two years ago when it acquired SSE’s retail arm and stressed that it was committed to a presence in Perth.
The Scottish Conservative politician said he would like OVO to look at the possibility of its Perthshire staff working from home, rather than having to relocate to a new hub, which will be based in Glasgow.
Commenting, Mr Fraser, who represents the Mid Scotland and Fife region, said: “OVO has said they are seeking to make job losses through voluntary redundancy, but we don’t know whether these job cuts could become compulsory if insufficient volunteers come forward.
“We believe that there are currently around 700 people in Perth employed by OVO – the loss of these jobs would be a huge blow to local families and the wider Perthshire economy.”
“I can recall the 1990s when the newly privatised Scottish Hydro Electric moved its headquarters from the west end of Edinburgh to Perth – this was a major economic boost for the city and the local economy. Over the years, Scottish Hydro was a success story and it then expanded to take over Southern Electricity to become SSE, which was a vital part of the economy.”
Mr Fraser continued: “In the longer run, it’s inevitable that we are going to see a decline in the number of energy retail jobs in Perth, and that is deeply regrettable. I previously raised the suggestion at Holyrood that the Scottish Government relocate more public sector jobs out of the Central Belt to Perth in order to support the local economy.
“This would undoubtedly benefit the Perthshire economy and help replace those jobs we are currently seeing lost. I have been disappointed with the actions of OVO and hope we can see a brighter future for the staff affected by these cuts.”
The Members’ Business Motion on Redundancies at OVO Energy was brought to the Chamber at Holyrood by Jim Fairlie MSP.
