Cosworth, the world-renowned UK performance engineering and manufacturing group, has today commemorated the start of construction on its new £12 million Advanced Manufacturing Centre in a ceremony at its Northampton site.
The new state-of-the-art 38,000ft² facility represents the next phase in a period of growth and development for Cosworth with support and backing from the UK government. Around 70 new jobs and apprenticeships will be created as a result of the investment.
In attendance at today’s ceremony were Local Growth Minister, Kris Hopkins and Councillor David Mackintosh, Leader of Northampton Borough Council.
The new Cosworth facility, the first of its kind in the UK, will manufacture components and assemble some of the world’s most advanced engines to global automotive manufacturers.
Located in the Waterside Enterprise Zone in Northampton, Cosworth’s Advanced Manufacturing Centre will focus on delivering high performance powertrain and electronics technologies affordably in niche volumes to create innovative products and new jobs.
The project has been made possible through a commitment from Northampton Borough Council to build the facility on a lease-back agreement, thanks to funds from the council and South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership (SEMLEP). The Department for Communities and Local Government is helping to provide funding towards the cost of the manufacturing machinery.
The facility will also house Cosworth’s Centre of Excellence programmes, which is supported by a grant from the UK Government’s Advanced Manufacturing and Supply Chain Initiative (AMSCI).
Hal Reisiger, Chief Executive, Cosworth Group Holdings said: “The Borough Council are to be commended for their commitment and dedication to supporting businesses in Northampton. It is invigorating to work alongside a team who understand the needs and priorities of Cosworth and who share our drive and vision to supply excellent products and services to high performance vehicle makers.
Our new Advanced Manufacturing Centre demonstrates the ability that local and national government have to enable projects that will create the jobs, apprenticeships and world-class high-tech manufacturing capability needed to drive sustainable economic growth in the UK.”
Kris Hopkins, Local Growth Minister said: “By choosing Northampton’s Enterprise Zone to develop the next generation of high performance engines, Cosworth will keep the UK at the forefront of automotive manufacturing and bring new jobs, skills and technology to the area.
Enterprise Zones are at the heart of our long-term economic plans, supporting businesses to grow with benefits such as fast planning and business rate discounts. They are already making a big difference, attracting over £1 billion pounds in private sector investment and creating over 9,000 jobs across the country.”
Joe Greenwell, CEO of the Automotive Investment Organisation said: “I welcome this investment in one of the UK’s high quality supply chain companies, which supports the UK’s leading position in the development of powertrain technology. This new Cosworth facility demonstrates that the UK has the necessary skills to develop excellent products and that, via the Automotive Industrial Strategy, Government has provided the right environment to support further automotive investment.”
Councillor David Mackintosh, Leader of Northampton Borough Council said: “This initiative would not have been possible without positive contributions from both central and local government. The borough council is building the new facility, which it will lease back to Cosworth, and two government departments have contributed to ensure the company can buy the equipment it needs and create a national centre of manufacturing excellence. This kind of partnership approach is vital if we want to see our economic recovery continue to accelerate, we can’t just sit back and wait for it to happen.“
