US electronics manufacturer Jabil has unveiled plans to create more than 200 jobs at its West Lothian plant, as Scotland continues its strong run of attracting inward investment from across the Atlantic.
Jabil's plans to create 212 jobs at its plant in Livingston, through an investment of £12.5 million, were highlighted by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon during a visit to New York.
The US company has cut jobs at Livingston in the past, in response to market conditions, so the latest commitment to the West Lothian plant is particularly welcome for a broader Scottish electronics industry that has shrunk significantly since the turn of the millennium.
The First Minister, who met with representatives from Jabil in New York and secured confirmation of the company's plans to create 212 jobs and protect 147 manufacturing roles at Livingston, said: "Scotland has a proud tradition and enviable global reputation for engineering excellence, built on the skills and innovation of our people, making it an attractive location for US businesses."
The Scottish Government said the investment would support Jabil's plans to create a "centre of excellence" based at Livingston, which would be one of three worldwide.
Lena Wilson, chief executive taxpayer-funded Scottish Enterprise, highlighted the research and development aspect of Jabil's plans for Livingston and opportunities for the US group to work with universities and companies in Scotland.
She said: "Jabil's centre of excellence in Livingston will solidify its ability to deliver R&D, manufacturing and new product introduction, thus creating additional capabilities, leadership and decision-making in Scotland. Jabil will also be able to tap into evolving technologies emerging from Scotland's innovative company base, and collaborate with our world-class universities."
Jabil, which has 90 sites around the globe and provides manufacturing services to some of the world's best-known brands in the aerospace, automotive, computing, consumer, defence, healthcare and communications industries, has operated the plant at Livingston for about 21 years.
A survey published earlier this month by accountancy firm Ernst & Young (EY) shows that Scotland attracted a record number of investment projects from the US last year, 37 in all.
The Scottish Government said that Scottish Enterprise had supported the first phase of Jabil's Livingston investment with £450,000 of grant funding, noting that the agency continued to engage with the company on "future opportunities for the site".
Joseph McGee, executive vice-president of Jabil, said: "We are pleased to be able to announce the expansion our longstanding Scotland site and leverage the tenured team to grow and expand our global processes and capabilities."
Among the US companies which announced investments in Scotland last year and are highlighted in the latest EY annual attractiveness survey are Synnex Corp subsidiary Concentrix, which is creating about 500 jobs at Gourock in Inverclyde, and Portfolio Recovery Associates UK, which last year revealed plans for around 400 new posts at Kilmarnock.
The survey also flags US financial giant BlackRock's creation of 200 jobs in Edinburgh, and American defence engineering company Lockheed Martin's expansion of its operation at Renfrew. Lockheed Martin unveiled plans to create 327 jobs through this expansion.
Ms Sturgeon said: "Ernst & Young's latest attractiveness survey showed that 2014 was Scotland's most successful year in the past decade for attracting US investments and Jabil's announcement is further evidence of this success."
Thousands of jobs have been lost in Scotland's electronics sector in the last 15 years as multinational companies have closed plants and moved manufacturing to lower-cost locations.
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