Zone bids to attract aerospace jobs to Herefordshire (From Hereford Times)

Zone bids to attract aerospace jobs to Herefordshire

11:49am Wednesday 11th July 2012 in News By Lauren Rogers

MORE than 500 new jobs could come to Herefordshire if two eastern European aerospace companies set up in the county.

Herefordshire Council has revealed negotiations with Seattle-based Get It Group - which puts international businesses looking for locations to expand their operations in touch with landowners, have been taking place.

Yesterday (Wednesday 11) chairman of Hereford’s Enterprise Zone Board Councillor Roger Phillips was due to meet with Communities Secretary Eric Pickles, the Governor of Washington state Christine Gregoire, and representatives from the aerospace industry in Westminster to talk about two companies coming to the city.

Joined by Herefordshire Council leader Cllr John Jarvis, Hereford MP Jesse Norman and Euro MP Anthea McIntyre, they are expected to sign an agreement which commits all parties to work together for six months to see if proposals can go ahead.

The proposal is for one company to move to a 10 hectare site at Rotherwas and another to open at Ross-on-Wye’s Model Farm business park.

“This is potentially great news for Herefordshire,” said Coun Roger Phillips.

“This is exactly the kind of company we want to see on the site as it will have benefits to the local economy, and the company will also benefit from the relatively close links with the aerospace industry in Bristol."