‘Sickening’ blow for Inverclyde as dozens of jobs moved from Greenock to Paisley

Multiple sources have confirmed to the Tele that the long-established Berry BPI plastics firm has moved the last of its operations out of its Inverclyde base on Port Glasgow Road and up the M8 to Paisley.

The company announced the closure of its manufacturing operation in the town in August 2023, with the loss of around 65 jobs.

Up to 50 posts were retained locally, mostly in finance and administration – but those have now been relocated too.

READ MORE: Berry BPI has announced 65 jobs blow in Greenock

When contacted by the Telegraph for comment, Inverclyde Council leader Stephen McCabe expressed deep disappointment – and said the firm had not reached out to the local authority for help finding an alternative base in Inverclyde.

He said: “The relocation of these jobs out of Inverclyde is yet another blow to the local economy.

“At the time the decision was taken to close the manufacturing plant we were assured by the company that the finance service centre and the head office would remain in Greenock.

Berry BPI has relocated the last of its Inverclyde jobs to Paisley. (Image: George Munro) “To now find out second hand that these jobs have been relocated to Paisley, without any public announcement and without the company engaging with the council to see if we could support them to find alternative premises in Inverclyde, is sickening.

“It is simply not the way to do business.

“I raised this latest jobs loss with Tom Arthur MSP, the Scottish Government’s Minister for Employment and Investment, when I met him on Monday to discuss what support the Government could offer to the Inverclyde Task Force to address the over 1,200 jobs losses we have already had in the past 18 months.

“We need action and funding from government to address this jobs crisis and not just warm words.”

Council leader Stephen McCabe slammed the ‘sickening’ decision by Berry BPI. (Image: Russell Steele)

Following Berry’s decision last year to close down its local manufacturing operation, it was confirmed that the collapse of Scotland’s proposed bottle deposit return scheme and the loss of an NHS Scotland supply contract had contributed to the decision.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, Berry BPI had invested in the Greenock site to manufacture personal protective equipment (PPE) items for the NHS, helping establish a Scottish supply chain for the health service at a time when countries across the globe were competing for limited PPE supplies.

Greenock and Inverclyde MSP Stuart McMillan said the firm’s decision to leave the area was a sign that the area needed to be given more cash to help bring businesses into the area.

He said: “This news is hugely disappointing. The last thing Inverclyde needs is more jobs leaving the area.

“I engaged with the business at the time to try to keep these jobs local. It is yet another example of why Inverclyde needs additional investment to help promote it as a place to do business.”

Stuart McMillan MSP said Berry’s decision was “hugely disappointing”. (Image: Newsquest)

The massive former Berry BPI site has now been snapped up by billionaire brothers Sandy and James Easdale, who hope to redevelop the area.

The Berry BPI site comprises a large industrial complex originally developed in the late 1960s/early 1970s.

The complex extends to 117,816 square feet and comprises a two-storey office building and a series of inter-connecting industrial buildings of varying age and construction together with a yard and car parking areas.

Berry BPI declined to comment on the decision to pull out of Inverclyde, despite repeated requests from the Telegraph.