Shropshire Business Board chair welcomes Jaguar Landrover investment

The carmaker announced its plans to invest in a £355 million plant, creating up to 750 skilled jobs and many more supply chain jobs, earlier this week.

Mandy Thorn said:

“We are really excited by the news that Jaguar Landrover have decided to invest £355 million in a new low-emission car engine plant just down the M54 from Shrewsbury. It is expected to create 750 new high technology jobs on our doorstep. We know that, with the number of very successful motor manufacturing suppliers in Shrewsbury and right across Shropshire, that many of the supply chain jobs will come to our small and medium-sized highly-skilled manufacturing firms.

“Our manufacturing sector is particularly strong in engine technology, with a good number of firms with strong order books and high levels of exporting.

“The county not only has a highly-respected motor manufacturing supply industry, but also has a well-deserved reputation for being at the forefront of the environmental technology sector. The green technology sector is currently one of our fastest growing sectors and is very strong in the Shrewsbury area, with our environmental technology centre next to the river in Shrewsbury.

“The designation of the I54 site as an Enterprise Zone for the Jaguar Landrover Engine Plant, and the success of the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership in winning Enterprise Zone designation for the Rotherwas Site in Hereford, means that Shrewsbury and Shropshire are now ideally located for so many supplier jobs for both zones.

“We hope that this will not only bring immediate benefits but also longer-term inward investment to Shropshire.

“Lastly I would like to congratulate the team behind the I54 enterprise zone and seek opportunities to work together and support their work in the future.”