The part of my job I enjoy most is getting out and about to visit companies on my own or as part of hosted events, a chance to meet people, share ideas and see the inspirational work that takes place - almost always unseen - in our industrial parks and estates.

A recent visit however was at best bittersweet, as I was visiting Blantyre Castings, who are now less than two months away from their last metal pour as their sand cast steel foundry business comes to an orderly and managed close. I met with Charlie Standerwick and Iain Campbell who have been running the company in partnership for almost four decades, to get an idea of the challenges that have led to their closure as well as a sense of the substance that has made them a successful business in that time.

READ MORE: Ian McConnell: Politicians must carry the can for huge Scottish public finances hole

For challenges, I arrived expecting energy costs to be a key part of the decision to close because primary metal forming processes are very energy intensive. I was a little surprised to hear that while energy costs have been a challenge - a 250% increase since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine - the driving reason for closure is the lack of skills and interest to replace what they themselves described as an ageing workforce. At 75 years old, Charlie is 15 years past the point when he........

© Herald Scotland