People and Places - Employment and Jobs

Clyde Gateway was once the workshop of the Empire, populated by skilled local workers in mills, textiles, iron works and heavy engineering factories.

For almost 100 years, from 1879 to 1975, Beardmore's in Parkhead was one of the biggest steel works in Europe, employing 30,000 people at its peak.

Templeton Carpets in Bridgeton opened in 1839, with as many as 3,000 people on its books at any one time. It closed in 1979.

Arrol's engineers provided work for up to 4,000 people in Dalmarnock, but it closed in 1986.

All of these big employers were supported by many other smaller businesses and suppliers.

Now there is no single large-scale employer, but there are an estimated 800 small and medium firms, businesses and retailers located in the area, most of whom employ, on average between 3 and 15 people. However, many of these jobs are held by people who live elsewhere other than Clyde Gateway.

The communities have higher than average unemployment rates. The people living here tend to have lower than average qualification levels and a lack of skills for many of the jobs on offer in Glasgow and the West of Scotland.

Clyde Gateway has set a target of 21,000 jobs over two decades.

No-one is promising a return to the days of large manufacturing factories employing thousands of men and women under one roof.

Yes, we will work hard to try and attract a new manufacturing plant, but our main targets are jobs in construction, offices, leisure and recreation activities, hotels and tourism, retail, financial services and the new and emerging industries of the 21st Century.

Clyde Gateway, working alongside existing organisations such as Glasgow East Regeneration Agency (GERA), and Routes To Work South will help equip and train local residents to grab these emerging job opportunities. We will be funding dedicated apprentice schemes for local residents, young and old alike, in both traditional trades such as plumbing, joinery and bricklaying, as well as newer industries such as sports management and hospitality.