Turning strategy into transition
Delivering a just and investable plan for one of Scotland’s most complex industrial sites
Energy, Government, Industrial Clusters
Scotland, UK
- Policy strategy
- Strategic communication
Grangemouth is both a vital contributor to Scotland’s economy and one of its most emissions-intensive sites. As the Scottish Government set out to deliver a Just Transition Plan for the Grangemouth Industrial Cluster, it faced an urgent and sensitive challenge: how to transition a live industrial complex toward net zero while protecting livelihoods, retaining investment, and ensuring community benefit.
The brief demanded rigour, neutrality and trust - ensuring all voices were heard and the final strategy could drive action across sectors.
A strategic framework for industrial evolution at Grangemouth
- Policy and funding landscape review
Mapped national and local policies, investment mechanisms and decarbonisation mandates to understand and showcase the levers for change. - Deep-dive stakeholder interviews
Spoke one-to-one with dozens of senior figures across business, government, academia and unions to capture strategic tensions and shared ambition. - Cluster-wide needs analysis
Structured findings around eight transition levers - from governance and skills to supply chain and communication - to identify gaps and action points. - Governance and leadership model
Proposed a new consortium-led strategy approach, including stronger industry leadership, executive management, and a mandate for inclusive community engagement.
Project highlights
Our governance recommendations supported the evolution of GFIB into a more delivery-focused body, while shaping the clear actions for inclusion in the Scottish Government’s Just Transition Plan for Grangemouth.
The strategy embedded industry, public sector, community and academic voices withing a credible framework for action - turning abstract policy into a credible plan for the economic growth alongside better outcomes for people and place.
Balancing realism with ambition for a greener Grangemouth
We showed how Grangemouth could decarbonise in a way that balances commercial realism with long-term sustainability. Our work equipped the Scottish Government and GFIB with a robust foundation for policy alignment, stakeholder coordination and funding mobilisation - turning complex transition into structured opportunity.
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Peter Smyth
External Affairs Director