Huddersfield factory gears up for green growth
Nick Clegg and Vince Cable announce 拢4.8 million of Regional Growth Funding for local businesses.
Huddersfield business David Brown Gear Systems has successfully secured 拢4.8 million of private sector and government funding from the Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and Business Secretary Vince Cable announced during a visit to the business today.
The funding will help create around 80 new jobs at the David Brown factory thanks to the funding programme which sees government and the private sector working together to boost regional growth.
The Deputy Prime Minister and Business Secretary visited the factory today to sign the legal contracts that will deliver the money. This follows a period of strict checks by the company and the government to ensure the deal offers the best value for money for taxpayers.
The Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said:
鈥淣ot only is it great to be announcing new jobs here in Huddersfield today, but it鈥檚 fantastic that David Brown is using the Regional Growth Fund to scale its operations up and out into the new and growing 鈥榞reen鈥� market.
鈥淐reating jobs and growth is our number one priority for Britain right now.
鈥淏ut it鈥檚 not enough just to get us back to where we were. There can be no forgotten areas of Britain. We need to rebalance the economy by supporting growth in every region and across a range of industries. That鈥檚 what the Regional Growth Fund is all about.鈥�
Innovative manufacturing
which is a leading manufacturer of gear systems including those for submarines and trains, will use the funding to extend its reach into the renewable energy market, stepping up production of special gears for wind turbines by creating a wind turbine research and development innovation centre. David Brown will be investing around 拢2.8 million in addition to the government funding.
Vince Cable also visited the University of Huddersfield for the official opening of the
This was established earlier this year when EPSRC awarded funding of 拢4.7 million to the University鈥檚 globally-renowned Centre for Precision Technologies. A consortium of leading UK firms and organisations including Rolls Royce and David Brown Gear Systems, contributed a further 拢3 million.
The Centre has embarked on a five-year project bringing together leading researchers and businesses. The result will be that companies will be able to fit their existing machine tools with devices that ensure almost total accuracy during manufacture, saving money and improving efficiency.
Vince Cable said:
鈥淭his is a great boost to the economy in Huddersfield. The investment of 拢2 million announced today for David Brown and the support for the Centre of Innovative Manufacturing will help businesses in the area expand their capabilities.
鈥淪upport of this kind is vital if we are to help businesses create jobs where they are most needed and lever in important private sector investment. I鈥檓 looking forward to making more announcements of this kind in the coming weeks.鈥�