80 skilled jobs are likely to be lost at a Dundee medical testing company.
Dundee’s BBI Solutions, part of the BBI Diagnostic Group, produce diagnostic tests for a range of medical conditions from pregnancy to ebola.
On Thursday, staff at the Medipark-based firm were told their jobs were being moved to a new custom-built facility in South Wales.
As part of the firm “restructuring its operations”, jobs currently on offer in Dundee will be moved 465 miles away to a new global headquarters in Caerphilly, Wales.
A BBI Group spokesperson confirmed: “BBI Group has informed its staff in Dundee this week that it is restructuring its operations following significant investment into a new global headquarters and manufacturing centre of excellence in South Wales.
“BBI Group has committed to investing £14 million into consolidating and enhancing its UK-based operations across 2017, which will take the company’s overall investment to approximately £20 million across 2016 and 2017.
“As part of this investment, the company will create a new £8.5 million 120,000sqft global headquarters in Caerphilly, South Wales.
“The move will aim to consolidate BBI Group’s existing operations in Blaenavon, Cardiff and Dundee into a new manufacturing centre of excellence as part of this new headquarters.
“This will result in operations currently undertaken at the Alchemy House and McLaggan House facilities, on Medipark, Dundee, being moved to the new site in Wales.
“BBI Group yesterday announced these plans to affected staff and will shortly embark on a formal consultation on these proposals.
“They will work closely with affected staff going forward and, in the event of any job losses in Dundee, will identify and offer opportunities across the group plus out-placement support.”
Commenting on the news, Dundee West MP Chris Law said: My thoughts are with those who will lose their jobs.
“It’s always sad to see a company moving out of Dundee.
“The Tay Cities Deal announced today is set to transform the city fortunes and we must look to the future and continue to work to bring more jobs through that transformational plan announced today.”
Joe FitzPatrick MSP said: “BBI has been in Dundee since 2006 offering high quality medical diagnostic kits.
“These are the kind of skilled jobs we are trying to increase in Dundee. I will be contacting the Scottish government’s PACe team to ensure they take all steps to support the affected workers.”
BBI Holdings took over Alchemy Laboratories Ltd, who previously operated from premises at Dundee Technology Park, in a £4.5 million deal back in 2006.
