Wednesday 26 November 2003
Callendar House, Falkirk

This seminar will review the impact on local labour markets of recent large scale redundancies (LSRs), and will highlight the implications for the Programme area. Using data gathered by the esep labour market service and case study material from recent plant closures in the Lothians and Forth Valley, John Lord's presentation will review the implications of LSRs for those directly affected and the wider workforce. We will show how the impact of LSRs is governed by the characteristics of the workforce and the local labour market. Recent redundancy response exercises have resulted in excellent redeployment rates – but are redundant workers losing wages and status, and what are the effects on people who are already out of work?

Professor Alan McGregor is Director of the Training & Employment Research Unit (TERU) at the University of Glasgow. He is a leading authority on the Scottish and UK labour markets, and an adviser to Government, local authorities and development agencies. Professor McGregor will provide an expert commentary on the issues raised in the presentation, and identify issues and challenges for public sector bodies and policy makers. Following a panel discussion, esep's Programme Director, Gordon McLaren, will summarise the key messages from the day and highlight opportunities to use European funding to assist the process of change and adjustment following major redundancies.