A £100 million investment by JCB in its global headquarters at Rocester will be a “huge boost” to local economic growth and investor confidence in Staffordshire, the deputy leader of the county council has said.
Following the announcement, County Coun Martin Murray, county council deputy leader and Cabinet member for economy and skills, said: “This investment by JCB in its Rocester headquarters is fantastic news for Staffordshire and the UK.
“It’s a flagship company in our county and a global leader in its sector, as well as one of our largest employers with a skilled workforce. The company also has its own academy school which is an invaluable resource for young people in Staffordshire.
“Investment of this kind is a huge boost of confidence for the Staffordshire economy, which is the beating heart of the country, and has a positive impact on supply chain businesses and future employment opportunities.”
He added: “It is timely that only yesterday we have again called on the Government to support upgrades on the A50 corridor where JCB is based to unlock future growth.”
The project at the company’s plant will see the installation of a fully automated powder paint plant costing £60 million, as well as a full modernisation of the shop floor, with new machining centres, friction welders and cylinder boring machines.
The investment was announced as the family company celebrated its 80th birthday – and that of its chairman Anthony Bamford – on 23rd October. The company is marked the occasion by giving the global workforce of more than 19,000 people an additional day’s holiday on 24th October.
Lord Bamford said investing in the World HQ, JCB’s home since 1950, was an “important and logical step” for the company.
“Basing JCB in the UK makes business sense, just as it has always made business sense. The work ethic in our country remains strong – especially in the Midlands, with its deep engineering heritage.
“It makes perfect sense to invest heavily in our British factories and the £100 million we are investing now will put us at the forefront of our industry. Obviously, we are expanding overseas, not least in America, where we have been for decades. But the UK is our home.
“We directly employ more than 19,000 people around the world, more than 8,000 of whom are in the UK. Even though around three-quarters of our UK production is exported, we continue to make a huge contribution to this country and to the national economy.”
