Midlands Engine welcomes East Midlands Manufacturing Zone announcement

The Midlands Engine has welcomed the announcement of the locations of the UK’s first Manufacturing Zones across Melton Mowbray, Leicester, Greater Lincolnshire and Northern Derbyshire.

Four projects involved in the space industry, food sector, and the development of HS2, will together benefit from a total of £500,000 funding to develop their plans.

(Left to right: Karen Smart Managing Director of East Midlands Airport, Communities Secretary Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP, Midlands Engine Chairman Sir John Peace)

Sir John Peace, Chairman of the Midlands Engine, said:

“We welcome the announcement of the locations for UK’s first Manufacturing Zones along with the associated £500,000 funding.”

“The Manufacturing Zones chosen build on the existing strengths of the region in the space, food and advanced manufacturing sectors and is another example of how the Midlands Engine can work with Government to deliver economic growth and jobs.”

The announcement came today from Communities Secretary Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP. The Secretary of State, who is also the Government’s Midlands Engine Champion, is visiting organisations across the East Midlands today to hear how they are contributing to a thriving region at the heart of the UK’s economic success.

He said:

“Manufacturing, innovation and trade are at the heart of the East Midlands economy, so it is the perfect place for the UK’s first Manufacturing Zones.”

The Government’s Midlands Engine strategy is supporting the East Midlands to realise its huge potential. Initiatives including over £1.9 billion of funding from the Local Growth Fund and an investment of £20 million in the Midlands Skills Challenge to boost people’s employment prospects are enabling businesses to create more jobs, export more goods and services and grow their productivity. Since 2010 unemployment fallen 38% and there are 64,500 more small businesses.

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