NWDA cash helps create 45 jobs

MORE than 40 jobs have been created after a £550,000 investment grant lured a Swiss engineering company to set up a base on Merseyside.

Sulzer Pumps (UK) specialises in the manufacture of pump packages and associated spare parts and repairs for the oil and gas and power sectors.

Due to a rapid growth and with its Leeds base at full capacity, Sulzer began to look for a new site.

Its investment in Bootle has created 45 jobs and the posts have been filled by skilled workes from the nearby former Rolls Royce site, which was shut down recently with 200 job losses.

Steven Broomhead, chief executive of the North West Development Agency, which awarded the grant to Sulzer UK said: “The demise of Merseyside’s Rolls Royce operation in Bootle was a significant blow for the stability of the local economy.

“With 200 jobs lost it was important the NWDA worked quickly with Sulzer to establish a similar operation to alleviate any further economic distress.

“Sulzer Pumps has the potential to grow into a significant employer for the region. If successful, the development is forecast to add £3m profits to the business by the end of 2011.

“Its ability to deliver improvements to the economy in terms of retaining skills and attracting new investment at a local and regional level is good news, not only for Merseyside, but the whole of the North West.”

Bob Foulkes, commercial director at Sulzer Pumps said:“ The facilities at the former Rolls Royce site in Bootle, together with available local skilled personnel is the ideal solution, allowing Sulzer to increase production capacity very quickly.”

 Chancellor Alistair Darling visited the new facility during his trip to Liverpool along with the rest of the Cabinet.