David Brown Gear Systems of Huddersfield has secured £4.8 million of private sector and government funding from the Regional Growth Fund. This will help create around 80 new jobs at the factory thanks to the funding programme which sees government and the private sector working together to boost regional growth. The news was announced by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and Business Secretary Vince Cable during a visit to the business.
The company 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 £2.8 million in addition to the government funding.
Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, said: “Not only is it great to be announcing new jobs here in Huddersfield today, but it’s fantastic that David Brown is using the Regional Growth Fund to scale its operations up and out into the new and growing ‘green’ market.
“Creating jobs and growth is our number one priority for Britain right now.”
The Business Secretary also visited the University of Huddersfield for the official opening of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Centre for Innovative Manufacturing in Advanced Metrology. This was established earlier this year when EPSRC awarded funding of £4.7 million to the University’s 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 £3 million.
Business secretary, Vince Cable, said: “This is a great boost to the economy in Huddersfield.
The investment of £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. Support 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.”
