Council welcomes enterprise minister meeting on ways to save Blindcraft

The local council has agreed to sit down with enterprise minister Jim Mather to discuss ways to keep Craigmillar's Blindcraft bed factory open. Earlier today members of the Scottish parliament agreed to look at new ways of encouraging public sector use of supported employment firms like Blindcraft , which employs people with visual impairments and disabilities. Responding to questions from the Labour party, SNP minister Mather vowed to try to meet representatives of the council-owned firm. Blindcraft workers were in parliament to hear the debate, where the City of Edinburgh Council's plan to shut the factory to save money was discussed. Video interviews with the politicians who met Blindcraft staff outside parliament can be seen below. Responding to the concerns raised for the factory's future, the council said staff welfare was its main priority. A council spokesman said: "We welcome any suggestions that could help the Council reduce the £1m deficit incurred by Blindcraft or find ways of supporting people with disabilities finding employment. "We have held constructive meetings with both unions and staff representatives over the past 18 months as to the way ahead for Blindcraft. Many possible solutions have been looked at and after much evaluation with trade unions the two being considered are creating a training model or closure. "Staff welfare has been at the forefront of our plans which is why we have put together a support team giving them access to supported employment, benefits and pensions to help them through this uncertain period." It is understood that PSN, the firm which helped save Aberdeen's Glencraft factory from a similar situation earlier this year, will also be invited to the talks. Glencraft's cheif executive Bob Keiller previously wrote about his hopes for the Blindcraft factory in this post for Guardian Edinburgh . More background on Blindcraft can be read in this previous article .