Hundreds of staff at Dundee Michelin have moved on to “positive destinations” since the decision to close the factory was announced in November.
A total of 269 workers, almost a third of the workforce, have handed in their notice to the tyre firm to take up other opportunities.
Production is due to cease at Michelin in June 2020 with the volume of tyres produced being lowered as workers leave.
Simultaneously, plans for the creation of an on-site innovation centre are being geared up, with the hope of new businesses coming into the Baldovie site before June.
Factory manager John Reid said he is delighted by the number of workers who had found other jobs.
He said: “It’s a social ramp down of the site – we are dropping the volume in line with people leaving.
“While that’s an inefficient approach for the business, it’s the best approach for the people. It means that we’re not pushing people out the door before they are ready or holding onto them while they have an opportunity somewhere else.”
Mr Reid said the rate of people leaving Michelin, which had employed 845 staff in Dundee, was ahead of projections and he left open the possibility that tyre production could end earlier than June.
“If that happens faster than anticipated, that’s a positive thing because it means people have been able to find other roles more quickly and readily than we thought,” he added.
Mr Reid, who was also appointed as chief executive of the Michelin-Scotland Innovation Parc (MSIP) earlier this week, expanded on the plans to make the site a centre of excellence that specialises in low carbon energy and sustainable transport.
The joint venture between Michelin, Dundee City Council and Scottish Enterprise plans to split the 32-hectare Michelin site into three areas.
Medium and large manufacturers will move into the Michelin production facilities. In the centre of the site will be an innovation campus and skills academy and at the northern end, there is undeveloped space for businesses.
“A lot of work has gone in from the three main partners to make sure this isn’t the end of the line,” Mr Reid said.
“The aim with MSIP is to refill the economic gap, the skills gap and the jobs gap that Michelin leaves behind. We are trying to do it quickly so that the gap is over the shortest period possible.
“We’ve got a list of more than 30 organisations that have shown a degree of interest in the site. Our objective is to get as much of that happening as possible before June 2020.
“We are trying to organise our space so we can offer it to these companies as quickly as possible.
“Everyone recognises this huge opportunity and they are determined to make it work.”
