Borders MP Michael Moore has expressed his shock and disappointment at today’s announcement from Emtelle that the company is consulting on making 35 employees redundant from a total workforce of 186.

Mr Moore, who visited the company last year to see first hand its operations at the cutting edge of technology, said:Michael Moore MP

“For a great company like this to be suffering is a sign of just how serious the economic downturn has become. Emtelle is a world-leading company which has great potential for the future, but that will be little comfort to the people who now face the prospect of losing their jobs. It is absolutely essential that local skills organisations and others provide all the necessary assistance as soon as the final outcome is known.”

Mr Moore also stressed that today’s news from Emtelle underlines the urgency of the Hawick Action Plan. He continued:

“The Borders Forum on Competitiveness, which I chair, received an update on the Hawick Action Plan on Monday. Scottish Borders Council is creating a Hawick Development Group to take forward this plan and hold the Scottish Government to its promises. There now has to be a real sense of urgency to this work.”