PICTURE 1: In Inverclyde, electronics manufacturing brought steady employment and bright job prospects for school leavers. 

Through the years, market forces and cheap working practices abroad made setting up business in the UK no longer so attractive, something which presented local companies with a major challenge. 

Computer giant IBM was one of the first large scale electronics companies to bale out and move to countries where skilled labour was cheap, leaving a trail of destructive unemployment in their wake. 

One company, National Semiconductor, had managed to stay afloat in Scotland after a takeover by Texas Instruments but now its fate looks sealed. 

The following pictures show the contribution employees of National Semiconductor made to the community and the company’s ups and downs in the face of global downturn.

Over the years, Nat Semi employees made a massive difference to many local charities as they often held fundraising events and collections to which they gave generously. 

This picture, taken in 1997, shows staff handing over a cheque which helped replenish the coffers of not one, but two separate groups, and a school. 

The three recipients of monies, Rainbow Friends, Ardgowan Hospice and Lilybank School, showed their gratitude as they posed up for the shot of them holding up one of the cheques for a whopping £400. 

PICTURE 2: This shot shows a small group of National Semiconductor workers who went the extra mile to raise funds for their chosen organisation. 

This time round, kids at Gourock’s McPherson Centre would benefit, after this group walked the West Highland Way back in 1996. 

A cheque for £550 was handed over in a pic which made good use of a prop in the form of a well-worn walking boot.

PICTURE 3: As far back as 1998, National Semiconductor was struggling to keep its place in the advanced industrial electronics market and, being up against foreign competition, a shrinking market and overcapacity, things took a dreadful downturn which saw workers losing their jobs. 

This shot shows people leaving the plant after an announcement on job cuts was made. 

National Semiconductor was eventually taken over by Texas Instruments in a deal which saw £6.5 billion change hands in 2011. 

This acquisition would make the company one of the largest makers of analogue technology components in the world. 

Sadly this takeover and its benefits to the ailing company have been short-lived and once more what remains of the organisation in Scotland is facing difficult times. 

The future does not look good for the plant and the irony of how much the workers gave to our community in the face of uncertainty in the past is a testament to their selfless attitude and belief in helping those less fortunate. 

Picture 4: In another selfless act of generosity Nat Semi workers presented toys for needy children to Women’s Aid and made sure the Tele was there to capture the action and hopefully encourage others to do the same. 

It is clear from the picture that employees  worked hard to gather a very large amount of games and toys that would help make Christmas special for kids less fortunate. 

Picture 5: In another selfless act of generosity Nat Semi workers presented toys for needy children to Women’s Aid and made sure the Tele was there to capture the action and hopefully encourage others to do the same. 

It is clear from the picture that employees  worked hard to gather a very large amount of games and toys that would help make Christmas special for kids less fortunate.