Motorola staff meet recruiters

The closure sent shockwaves through the industry

More than 40 companies will be hoping to recruit workers from Motorola's Bathgate factory at two jobs fairs this week.

The closure announcement in April sent shock waves through Scotland's electronics industry and made about 3,100 workers unemployed.

More than one third of the workforce at the plant have already managed to find new employment.

Production at the mobile phone plant in West Lothian is due to end in September, with about 900 staff remaining until the autumn.

The company blamed a global slowdown

Scottish Enterprise Edinburgh and Lothian has experience of running redundancy task forces - but Motorola has been its biggest challenge yet.

More than 1,000 workers have already found new jobs and 200 more have registered an interest in setting up their own businesses.

On Tuesday more than 40 companies will take part in a jobs fair in Livingston - another one will be held in Wishaw on Wednesday.

John Riddle, a former union organiser at the plant, believes the task force will have to improve its performance if the workers are to have a chance of securing employment elsewhere.

Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme, Mr Riddle, now a maintenance supervisor, said: "Scottish Enterprise appear to be going through the motions.

Basically the way I and others felt was that the task force needed training themselves

John Riddle

"They weren't forthcoming with money for training for jobs outwith Motorola unless there was a job guarantee at the end of it.

"When you were asking questions of the task force you were not getting any answers. Basically the way I and others felt was that the taskforce needed training themselves, to deal with the situation they were in.

"They were not sure where the funding was coming from, nor where the jobs were going to be.

But Charlene O'Connor, from the local enterprise company, said she was delighted at the level of response from potential employers.

She said the type of jobs on offer ranged from emergency services to financial services.

The task force has set a target of getting jobs or training for 75% of the workforce within six months, and 95% within one year.