MCVITIE'S will pursue plans to axe around 500 jobs in Glasgow despite owners being given almost £1 million in public money, it has been revealed. 

Figures show that Pladis - who own the Tollcross biscuit factory - have received nearly £900,000 of taxpayer-funded grants to support local jobs over the years. 

Scottish Enterprise confirmed that it approved £818,000 of “training aid" cash to upskill staff at the city firm - which was meant to safeguard 485 jobs, The Scottish Sun reports. 

Glasgow Times:

The Scottish Government agency, which encourages economic development, enterprise, innovation and investment in business, also confirmed that a separate £193,000 grant was given to bosses in 2016-17 to bring the brand to Tollcross.

Politicians and industry representatives have since united to save jobs at the East End factory after the biscuit giant announced the "devastating" closure on Tuesday. 

Gary Smith, Scottish Secretary of the GMB union, blasted the decision as "disgusting". 

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He said: "The owners of the McVities plant in the East End of Glasgow have announced that they want to close the factory in May of next year, they've just told us today.

"479 jobs are at risk. Manufacturing jobs in one of the most deprived areas of Glasgow. It's disgusting.

"Our members are going to be hugely upset. It's going to be a difficult night for them and their families.

"But the message from our trade union is very clear. The East End of Glasgow desperately needs jobs. We need manufacturing jobs, particularly as we emerge from the pandemic."

"Tomorrow we regroup and if our members are up to fight this closure, this union will not be found wanting."

Glasgow Times:

The factory comes under the Glasgow East constituency, which is represented at Westminster by David Linden. 

He called the news a "body blow" for workers, adding: "Since 2017, I've been engaging with Pladis around the challenges they face as a business and I was genuinely encouraged to learn that things had started to turn a corner. 

"News of a proposed closure comes as something of a bolt out of the blue."

READ MORE: GMB pledge to fight McVities Tollcross factory closure

Susan Aitken, the leader of Glasgow city council said she had met with the Scottish Government business minister, Jamie Hepburn, to discuss how jobs could be kept on the site. 

Glasgow Times:

The Scottish Government joined in on calls to save the hundreds of jobs under threat, describing the closure as a "huge blow to the staff, their families and the local area."

A spokesman said: “We are concerned to learn Pladis UK is entering into consultation with its workforce over the potential closure of its Tollcross site.

“The Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise have offered support and ministers have spoken to Glasgow City Council to discuss a partnership approach.

“Scottish Enterprise will continue to engage with the company throughout its consultation period to explore all possible options to support the business and its workforce.

“Our priority will be to work in partnership with the company, the unions and local authority to provide every support possible to help ensure a productive future for the Tollcross site and its workforce.

“Should job losses happen, we will provide support to all affected employee.”

A spokesman for Pladis said: “We received a grant from Scottish Enterprise for training and upskilling over five years ago.

“We can confirm all conditions of that award have been met.”