A PAIR of flagship Staffordshire businesses’ expanding global empires will give a serious boost to the regions economy and employment prospects for local people.
Alstom, a world leader in the power industry, and digger giants JCB were both celebrating this week after securing international multi-million pound deals and expanding their global presence.
Ben Adams, Staffordshire County Council’s cabinet member for economic growth and enterprise said the increase in UK exports created by the two deals would be a significant boost for residents and other local businesses.
"Alstom is one of Staffordshire's flagship companies and a significant employer, so its continued success is important to this county,” he said. “The company's successful Regional Growth Fund bid last year will help it advance its leading industry research facility, bringing more jobs and investment.” He said the JCB deal followed the announcement of record profits in 2011 and showed the company was going from strength to strength on a world scale.
"An upturn in orders for businesses based in our county is good for the UKeconomy and good for Staffordshire,” said Mr Adams. "I am sure we will see continued successes from our internationally acclaimed businesses in addition to growth in our small business sector."
JCB has already announced 350 new jobs to meet the rising global demand, including a variety of positions Rugeley, Rocester, Cheadle and Uttoxeter branches.
The jobs, which are available with immediate effect through recruitment agency Blue Arrow, include welders, machinists, paint sprayers, fabricators, assemblers and forklift truck drivers.
And Alstom’s profile was further boosted when Stafford MP Jeremy Lefroy mentioned the firm during Prime Minister’s Question Time last week.
“Today, Alstom is opening in my constituency a new facility for the engineering, manufacturing and export of power electronics, in which Stafford is a world leader,” said Mr Lefroy. “Following the news of the first trade surplus in motor vehicles for more than 30 years, what measures does my right honourable friend consider to be essential to continue and to increase investment in manufacturing?”
Prime Minister, David Cameron, said: “I very much remember visiting GEC Alstom when I contested my honourable friend’s constituency rather unsuccessfully in 1997.
“What is absolutely essential for such manufacturing, engineering and technology- based businesses are the support that we are giving to apprenticeships.”
