An announcement is expected today from JCB, giving details of a £150m investment in its Staffordshire operations which will create 2,500 jobs.
The announcement comes close on the heels of the publication of a new National Infrastructure Plan and the 2013 Autumn Statement.
JCB’s founder and chairman Lord Bamford has said the detail of these policy statements was an important influence on the company’s decision to invest.
In addition to the 2,500 jobs to be created at JCB by 2018, it is estimated another 7,500 jobs will appear in the supply chain as a consequence.
Chancellor George Osborne will visit JCB’s Rocester factory today to welcome the company’s news, which will be formally announced and detailed by Lord Bamford later today.
It is understood that the £150 million plans, which represent the single largest investment in JCB’s history, include:
- A brand-new purpose-built 350,000 sq. ft. factory for JCB Cab Systems in Beamhurst, near Uttoxeter, to replace the current smaller facility in Rugeley. It will also enable JCB to in-source production of cabs currently made by third party suppliers in Europe.
- Expansion of JCB’s production operations in Rocester with an additional 126,000 sq. ft. of manufacturing space to increase hydraulic cylinder production.
- A brand-new, purpose-built 220,000 sq. ft. factory on the Harewood Industrial Estate in Cheadle, Staffordshire to expand existing JCB Earthmovers and JCB Compact Products operations, allowing JCB Utility Products to relocate to this site from the current smaller factory elsewhere in the town.
- Relocation of the existing JCB Finance and JCB Insurance offices in Rocester to new purpose-designed, high-quality office accommodation at nearby Harper Meadow in Denstone.
- A new in-house training facility for JCB staff, to be run in conjunction with key universities to support apprenticeship and graduate training programmes.
All of the above are subject to planning permission.
Ahead of his announcement today Lord Bamford said: “The Chancellor’s announcement of the major A50 road improvement project is good news for businesses in this area. It allows companies like JCB to plan ahead with confidence, knowing that the road network will not constrain business growth and future investment.”
He added: “Our plan to create 2,500 high-quality manufacturing jobs locally is clear evidence of the important link between infrastructure improvement and job creation. The Chancellor’s decision to invest in the regional infrastructure means JCB can continue to invest locally, which is good for Staffordshire and good for Britain, especially given the wider benefits to our UK supply chain.”
