Manufacturing jobs in Motherwell at immediate risk after closure announcements
Two long‑standing manufacturing operations in Motherwell have told staff they intend to cease production at their local sites, putting a combined total of more than 200 jobs at risk and prompting urgent calls for government intervention.
Trade union Unite said Resideo informed its workforce late last week of plans to transfer production from Motherwell to facilities in Brno, Czech Republic, and Nagykanizsa, Hungary, citing lower operating costs. Unite estimates that about 116 roles could be affected if the closure proceeds.
On Tuesday morning the union said the adjacent Honeywell site announced its intention to close, with a further 91 jobs reported to be at risk. Honeywell is proposing to move much of the work either to Poole in England or overseas, according to Unite.
“Scotland can't continue to haemorrhage manufacturing jobs. It’s simply unsustainable,” said Unite general secretary Sharon Graham. “The decision by both Resideo and Honeywell to close the joint site, and to transfer the work out of Scotland is unforgivable. Government needs to intervene and ministers must protect jobs and communities. They need to act now.”
Local significance and wider implications
Both sites manufacture components and controls related to heating efficiency and climate control: products include thermostats for heating and air‑conditioning, smart climate solutions, plumbing components for boilers and heat pumps, timers and heating controls. Unite warned the loss of this manufacturing capacity would be significant for Scotland’s ambitions on a just transition towards a lower‑carbon economy.
The potential closures not only threaten individual livelihoods but also risk eroding a cluster of specialist manufacturing expertise in the town. The two plants sit adjacent to one another and have been highlighted by the union as forming part of an interlinked capacity in controls and heat‑related hardware, a sector that has seen policy focus as Scotland and the wider UK seek to decarbonise heating.
What is being asked of government and next steps
Unite has urged both the Scottish and UK governments to explore every option to retain production in Motherwell. The union has called for ministers to engage urgently with the companies and with employees to consider alternatives to closure.
- Resideo: proposed transfer to Brno and Nagykanizsa; ~116 roles at risk.
- Honeywell: proposed work transfer to Poole or abroad; ~91 roles at risk.
- Combined: >200 jobs at risk; union seeks government intervention.
| Company | Proposed destination | Jobs at risk (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Resideo | Brno (Czech Republic); Nagykanizsa (Hungary) | 116 |
| Honeywell | Poole (England); abroad | 91 |
Both companies produce goods closely linked to energy efficiency and low‑carbon heating technology. Honeywell, as noted by the union, also manufactured more than 70 million face masks during the Covid‑19 pandemic—an indication of the site’s manufacturing capability.
Local leaders, businesses and employees now face uncertainty while the companies and unions engage over the coming days. Any formal consultation process, redundancy notices or offers of transfer have not been disclosed in the detail provided to the union’s public statements.
The potential loss of these roles will have consequences for supply chains and skilled jobs in Motherwell and across North Lanarkshire. Given the strategic tie between the products made at the sites and Scotland’s climate goals, the announcements are likely to prompt questions about industrial strategy, procurement and the degree to which public policy can sustain or attract manufacturing linked to the green transition.
Further updates are expected as Unite and the companies clarify timetables and plans. The union has signalled it will press both the Scottish and UK governments to act to preserve the sites and jobs.
