Herefordshire aerospace initiative will create 1,000 jobs
A JOINT venture agreement announced as part of a package of advancing manufacturing initiatives by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg will provide a major boost for the Herefordshire economy.
Tbilisi Aircraft Manufacturing and MARKET-MATS, with the support of The Get It Group LLC, have signed an agreement to locate their advanced manufacturing campuses in the Hereford Enterprise Zone and Model Farm Ross-on-Wye, creating more than 1,000 new jobs, over 10% of which will be apprentices.
It is a truly international venture. The Get It Group is based in the the US, Tbilisi Aircraft Manufacturing is from Georgia and MARKET-MATS is from the Ukraine.
Each of the two advanced manufacturing campuses is expected to create at least 500 high-tech manufacturing jobs and once established the sites are predicted to increase local spending power by around £20m per annum.
Each campus will have its own apprenticeship training school and at least 10% of the employees will come through the schools at any one time, providing much need employment for the young people in the region.
Mr Clegg announced the deal when he gave the keynote address at the British Business Embassy on advanced engineering excellence at Lancaster House in London.
It was one of a number of announced deals that should lead to thousands of jobs in the engineering, aerospace and automotive sectors.
Senior representatives of major global companies such as Airbus, Jaguar Land Rover, JCB, McLaren Racing, Nissan, Rolls-Royce, Siemens, Atkins, GKN and Spirit AeroSystems attended the event and took part in panel-led discussions about the strength of the UK as a trading partner and the investment location of choice.
Nick Clegg said: “The skills and expertise of British businesses are gold medal standard and highly sought after across the world.
“The UK is one of the top ten manufacturers in the world. Our manufacturing sector is a national success story and lies right at the heart of our strategy for economic recovery and growth.
“The announcements being made today will create and safeguard jobs and stimulate growth. They are a welcome boost to British business and a vote of confidence in the UK.”
