Tennent’s jobs at risk as brewery announces plans to close major Scots site

Nearly 100 jobs are at risk as Tennent’s have announced plans to close a major Scots plant.

The beer giant announced that it plans to close its Newbridge site in Edinburgh – which has been in operation since November 2020. Unite the union, which represents workers at the facility, said the move would be a “premature decision” by C&C Group, which owns the brewery.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Unite is determined to pursue every avenue to stop the proposed closure of the Newbridge facility. Tennent’s which is Scotland’s largest beer company is a subsidiary of the very profitable C&C Group PLC.

“This is an extremely premature decision. We will leave no stone unturned in an effort to keep jobs at Newbridge.”

The union was informed on Wednesday that the firm hopes to transfer production and distribution to the drink giant’s Cambuslang site. The firm is proposing to transfer 41 jobs between the two sites, however, the union argues more than half the jobs will still be axed.

Pat Egan, Unite industrial officer: added: “This is devastating news for the workforce at Tennent’s Newbridge. The company promised that having a facility in Edinburgh was only the start of its expansion. The site has only been operating for a few years and it’s a cruel blow that 96 workers are facing redundancy. Unite is demanding urgent meetings with Tennent’s so that we can develop a strategy to save the plant.”

C&C Group PLC made a profit after tax of £45.5 million in 2023 on a turnover of £1.5 billion.

Tennent’s Lager is Scotland’s best-selling beer and has been brewing since 1885.

The Record approached C&C Group for comment.

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