20,000 jobs promised for region’s automotive sector
West Midlands Mayor Andy Street has pledged to create 20,000 new jobs as part of his plans to supercharge the region’s automotive sector.
Street announced at a speech at the Conservative Party Conference that as well as creating 20,000 jobs by 2030, he wants to help increase the industry’s economy by £8bn by growing the region’s automotive cluster and bolstering the supply chain.
He said: “The West Midlands is long established as the home of the UK’s automotive sector, but now it is time to become a global leader.
“We are investing heavily in state-of-the-art battery technology and, with the help of manufacturers like Jaguar Land Rover, have a formidable automotive cluster that features innovation centres, research centres and production plants.
“Now it is time to supercharge our efforts and take on the world, starting with a gigafactory.”
Around 11,000 jobs would be created by the building of a gigafactory in the region, which Street is committed to bringing to the UK’s home of automotive.
His commitment comes after Labour announced it would build three gigafactories if it came into power – none of which would be in the West Midlands.
Street said: “I was very disappointed to hear that Labour’s plans do not include a gigafactory for the West Midlands. With our automotive cluster and significant supply chain we are the obvious home for the UK’s first mass-production battery plant, and it is a real shame that local Labour MPs were not able to make that case.
“Nonetheless I remain as committed as ever to bringing a gigafactory to the West Midlands, and I will continue to lobby my government to make sure that happens.”
On top of the gigafactory, Street plans to create jobs and boost the automotive sector by growing the region’s cluster and attracting new and current businesses to launch, expand, or relocate.
Street’s announcement at a CBI speech comes after he launched the West Midlands Combined Authority Automotive Skills Plan back in July, which aims to upskill current workers in the automotive supply chain to make sure they are ready for changes in the industry as it shifts towards battery technology and autonomous vehicles.
The UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC), which will research state-of-the-art battery technology in Coventry, has also been boosted by the WMCA after its board agreed an extra £18m funding package.
The region’s automotive sector currently employs more than 46,500 people and is home to car giant JLR, which announced earlier this year that it would be building its new all-electric XJ at its Castle Bromwich plant, as well as establishing a new battery assembly centre at Hams Hall in Warwickshire.
This was supported by Street who helped the company secure a £500m export loan guarantee from the government.
