Food manufacturer VION is to create 250 jobs at its pork processing facility at Broxburn in West Lothian, Scotland.

The firm will also create of a Centre of Excellence for fresh manufacturing at VION Hall.

Following trials of its Lean Leadership Academy in Suffolk, VION is now looking to replicate this model at VION Hall, its largest site in Scotland, and has been awarded almost £2m of grant funding from Scottish Enterprise and Skills Development Scotland, an invaluable support in the development plans for the site, according to the company.

VION UK chief executive, Ton Christiaanse, says: “This announcement underlines our commitment to the development of our skills base. Partnerships are the basis for business success and we especially value the support and expertise of Scottish Enterprise and Skills Development Scotland. This investment not only demonstrates our confidence in the Hall’s site, but also in the Scottish pig farming sector who are key partner suppliers to our business.”

First minister, Alex Salmond, adds: “Securing 1,250 jobs through the new Centre of Excellence at Halls in Broxburn is fantastic news. VION’s investment in their new training centre – supported by Training Plus funds of £1.495m from Scottish Enterprise and up to £500,000 from Skills Development Scotland – is a major vote of confidence in the Scottish workforce and Scotland’s economic future.”