INVERCLYDE'S billionaire businessmen brothers have bought the EE call centre in Greenock - and raised some hope of keeping the communications giant in the town.
Sandy and James Easdale are understood to have acquired the sprawling 60,000 sq/ft premises for a seven-figure sum from a London-based asset manager.
The move comes after EE stunned Inverclyde earlier this year with its intention to relocate to Glasgow - moving 450 jobs away from the district.
Easdale brothers purchase EE call centre
The acquisition by the Easdales sees the brothers' property portfolio enhanced to £900 million across the UK through their property investment branch, Dalglen.
Sandy Easdale said: “At this stage it seems unlikely that EE will reverse its decision to leave Greenock but we are more than willing to work with government and other partners to see if a solution can be found. We would be pleased to talk to the new Labour MP Martin McCluskey to see if he could bring his influence to bear with party leader Anas Sarwar to see if there is a solution.
“Another 450 jobs lost in Greenock would bring the total to 1200 lost locally over the last 18 months which is a bitter pill to swallow for the region.”
EE, and its predecessors T-Mobile and one2one, have occupied the building since it was opened as part of the former Scottish Enterprise Development Zone at Cartsburn in Greenock.
Easdale said: “We’re pleased to add the EE building to our portfolio. It occupies a great location within Greenock, easily accessible by car and public transport and enjoys an outstanding view over the Clyde and towards the new Ocean Terminal facility."
His brother James said: “One of the key priorities identified in Inverclyde’s economic strategy was to increase capacity to accommodate private sector jobs but if anything, the region cannot even hold onto many of the ones it has currently got.
“We are committed to working with others to see if we can keep EE in the town and if that is not possible, we will want to see if we can find a new tenant for the building who will bring jobs to the area.
“Inverclyde is a great place to work and live and it is vital that politicians play their part in making that case to businesses and investors more vigorously.”
Built in 1999, the office space sits across ground and mezzanine levels on a prime six acre site, accessed from the main A8 arterial road into Greenock Town Centre.
It has 450 car parking spaces externally and has spectacular views overlooking the River Clyde, facing the new Greenock Ocean Terminal.
Dalglen’s investment ventures are responsible for several housing projects, including developments at the Spango Valley site in Greenock, the former Tullis Russell paper factory in Glenrothes, and a waterside housing project in Dumbarton. These projects are set to create over 3,000 new homes in Scotland over the next decade.
The Easdale Investment Group has recently received approval from Inverclyde Council for a new £15 million development, comprising 47 homes at the site of the former Tate & Lyle factory in Greenock. They are also spearheading the redevelopment of the iconic former Watt Brothers store in Glasgow.
The Easdales said they were willing to work with EE and partners such as Scottish Enterprise, Inverclyde Council and the Scottish and UK Governments to see if the jobs could remain in Greenock.
