Construction has begun on Cosworth’s £12m Advanced Manufacturing Centre in Northampton which is set to create 70 new jobs and apprenticeships.
The new Cosworth facility, the first of its kind in the UK, will manufacture components and assemble some of the world’s most advanced engines to global automotive manufacturers.
Located in the Waterside Enterprise Zone, the centre will also focus on delivering high performance powertrain and electronics technologies affordably in niche volumes.
The facility will also house Cosworth’s Centre of Excellence programmes, which is supported by a grant from the UK Government’s Advanced Manufacturing and Supply Chain Initiative (AMSCI).
The project has been made possible through a commitment from Northampton Borough Council to build the facility on a lease-back agreement, thanks to funds from the council and South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership (SEMLEP).
Ground was broken on the 38,000ft² facility at a ceremony this morning, with the site being part funded by the UK government while also receiving support from Northampton Borough Council.
The Department for Communities and Local Government is helping to provide funding towards the cost of the manufacturing machinery.
Hal Reisiger, chief executive, Cosworth Group Holdings, praised the council and other supporting bodies for their commitment to aiding businesses in Northampton.
“Our new Advanced Manufacturing Centre demonstrates the ability that local and national government have to enable projects that will create the jobs, apprenticeships and world-class high-tech manufacturing capability needed to drive sustainable economic growth in the UK.”
Joe Greenwell, CEO of the Automotive Investment Organisation, added: “I welcome this investment in one of the UK’s high quality supply chain companies, which supports the UK’s leading position in the development of powertrain technology.
“This new Cosworth facility demonstrates that the UK has the necessary skills to develop excellent products and that, via the Automotive Industrial Strategy, Government has provided the right environment to support further automotive investment.”
