Factory fears over future of government deal to supply NHS uniforms

A company which employs disabled workers to make NHS uniforms has warned 60 staff are at risk of redundancy unless its contract with the Scottish government is extended.

Haven Products, based in Larbert, said it had “no guaranteed work” beyond the end of November following a “drastic reduction” in the number of trousers and tunics ordered by the health service.

Staff at the social enterprise said they feared losing their homes if it is forced to close.

The Scottish government said a final decision on the contract would be made in advance of it ending.

The firm, which is a registered charity, said it had been told by the Scottish government that the number of NHS garments ordered before its contract expires on 30 November would be significantly reduced.

They also said a document-scanning deal, which involved digitally archiving papers, would not be renewed when it expires on 31 July.

BBC Scotland News understands both agreements make up about 80% of its work.

It also has a small contract to package whisky bottles.

Haven’s CEO Karen Motherwell said the decisions would effectively “destroy” the business, forcing it to miss out on about £1.1m in revenue.

She said: “This double-whammy will immediately make 47 disabled workers redundant.

“When this happens, the factory at Larbert will not be economically sustainable and we’ll have to close, making the remaining 13 staff redundant as well.

“Almost all of our staff are either, disadvantaged or vulnerable and unless the Scottish government move to have the contracts reinstated, their decisions will have a devastating effect on our disabled workers.”

The Scottish government is understood to be exploring moving its digitising work in house to Edinburgh.

Haven said that would mean workers like Calum Stewart, who has Asperger’s Syndrome, being made redundant.

Mr Stewart, 28, from Bo’ness, began on the production line at Haven 10 years ago and worked his way up to supervisor.

He bought a house with his fiancée two months ago but fears he and his colleagues will be “condemned” if the factory closes.

Mr Stewart said: “I wouldn’t have been able to save enough money to pay the deposit on the house, nor get a mortgage in the first place if I didn’t have this job at Haven.

“If I’m made redundant and can’t quickly find another job, I could well lose my house, as I wouldn’t have a wage to pay the mortgage.

“Colleagues have told me they are petrified that this place will shut down.

“This is the only workplace locally that gives full-time work to people with disabilities.”

A Scottish government spokesperson said Haven had been offered “advice and support” through Scottish Enterprise.

They added: “Haven Products Ltd have done so much to provide employment for disabled and disadvantaged adults in Scotland.

“Scottish Enterprise have offered the firm advice and support with their current and future business model, and we strongly encourage Haven to engage with them.

“All new contracts will be considered carefully, in line with subsidy control measures, to ensure value for money for taxpayers in Scotland.”