Jobs boost as Clegg visits Bentley
BENTLEY Motors, the luxusry car manufacturer, is creating 250 jobs amid strong global demand for its products.
Last April it received £1.7m from the Government’s Regional Growth Fund to recruit and train 500 new employees – of which 250 have already been hired.
In November it received a further £3m from the second round of RGF to support a £20m-plus research and development project by parent company Volkswagen AG to create a new power-train fir future models.
The Crewe-based manufacturer, welcomed Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg to its factory on Pyms Lane. Mr Clegg said: “Creating jobs and growth is my number one priority for Britain right now. For too long the UK economy has been too focused on the City of London. The Regional Growth Fund is helping companies across the country to grow their businesses and create jobs.”
Bentley’s chief executive, Wolfgang Durheimer said: “We are greatly encouraged by his comments that the manufacturing sector and companies like Bentley have a key role to play in developing a stronger and more balanced economy.
“The funding we have received from the Regional Growth Fund will help us in two key ways. First, it will help ensure that we have a skilled workforce we need to deliver our projects and remain globally competitive. Second, the R&D support enables us to work on a key engine development project that will help us expand in key markets.
“Bentley has had a fantastic start to 2012 and our sales show that there is huge global demand for high quality luxury automotive products manufactured in Crewe.”
Bentley is a key exporter to the US, China, Middle East and Russia. Earlier this year it revealed a prototype for a luxury new Sports Utility Vehicle at the Geneva Motor Show.
