The UK government’s immigration policy is hampering food processing companies’ ability to fill their vacancies, says a Scottish MP.
Loch Duart invited Ross, Skye & Lochaber MP, Ian Blackford to its Dingwall processing plant to discuss the staffing crisis businesses across the Highlands are facing.
Despite paying above the living wage and providing enhanced conditions and subsidised transport, Loch Duart is still struggling to fill all its vacancies and points to a lack of available workers locally. As the MP for the constituency and Westminster SNP leader, Ian Blackford praised the company’s investment in the region but said that a lack of migrant workers was to blame.
“It is clear to me that the company is being held back by inflexible immigration policies that are hampering the ability of the company to recruit foreign workers to complement the current locally based workforce,” said Mr Blackford.
“I will be seeking a meeting with the UK government ministers to push for a relaxation of rules to allow overseas workers to come and work for Loch Duart to support the company in its growth ambitions.”
After spending £2m buying and completely refurbishing the factory in 2020 the Loch Duart plant now has the British Retail Consortium ‘AA’ Grade certification, employing 160 people across the Western Isles, Sutherland and Ross and Cromarty.
“It was a good opportunity for the SNP Westminster leader to come to the site and see first-hand the struggles the company, like others, faces in recruiting staff,” said Russell Leslie, processing director at Loch Duart Dingwall.
