Employment and Skills, The Regions

£172 million investment to boost jobs in the North West

North West businesses to receive £172 million investment to boost jobs

Two North West businesses have secured funding from the Regional Growth Fund. The funding will help to create 3,704 jobs at the two businesses.

The Deputy Prime Minister has announced:

  • £139 million of investment in Stobart, which will be used to expand their Widnes site. The funding will be managed by Halton Borough Council. Stobart and their partners Prologis are investing £130 million in addition to the £9 million of Government funding, creating 3,450 direct jobs and 1,276 indirect jobs;

 

  • £33 million of investment at Pilkington Glass in St Helens. The company is investing £28 million in addition to the £5 million of Government funding. The funding will be used to introduce a more efficient production technique and produce glass that is more competitive in the European market. 254 direct jobs and 209 indirect jobs will be created as a result.

Overall, 35 bids to the fund from the North West have been provisionally approved. This will create and protect a combined total of 13,000 jobs across the region. It is estimated an additional 41,000 jobs will be created to support the successful businesses’ supply chains.

Nick Clegg said:

 “For too long the UK economy has been too focused on the City of London and all too often this has been at the expense of places like Widnes and St Helens in the North West.

“I want the North West to be a place where people make things again, where iconic businesses like Stobart and Pilkington can thrive.

“The Regional Growth Fund is unlocking private sector investment, with at least £5 put in for every £1 of public money.

“The fund is already helping the economy grow in every region and across a range of industries. Today I have also announced an additional billion pound boost for British businesses which means the Regional Growth Fund will create an estimated half a million jobs before the end of this parliament.”

Read more

Read more about the Regional Growth Fund

Amanda Frewin

Research & Project Support

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