Agri-tech firm Syngenta creates hundreds of jobs with new Manchester facility

Global agriculture tech firm Syngenta is set to boost its UK presence with a new facility in Manchester and the creation of 200 jobs.

The company’s new Global Operations Center in Didsbury, which is opening on August 3, will focus on operational activities related to supply, procurement and IT and program services. Of the 200 jobs being created, 140 have been earmarked for the Manchester area.

The UK is already home to a number of Syngenta facilities, including the firm’s biggest research and development site in Berkshire and production centres in Scotland and Yorkshire.

Colin Hardy, the program lead for Syngenta’s Global Operations Center, commented: “We are delighted to be able to base Syngenta’s new Global Operations Center in Manchester which was chosen following an extensive assessment of possible European locations and increases our investment in the UK economy.

“Importantly, the location provides access to a skilled workforce and enables us to take advantage of Manchester’s position in the UK’s emerging ‘northern powerhouse’.”

As of 2015, Syngenta has nearly 2,000 employees in the UK focusing on production and supply, commercial sales, research and development and, with the launch of the new Didsbury facility, global operations.

The chief executive of Manchester Investment Development Agency Service, Tim Newns, said: “It’s great news that a company of the scale and prestige of Syngenta has chosen the region as a base for their new Global Operations Center.

“Manchester is continuing to go from strength to strength as a city of innovation, ideas and delivery and should prove to be a very effective location for the company.”

He added: “The concept of having highly connected urban science parks linked with academia, the NHS and excellent connectivity is enabling the city to gain increasing recognition as a top location for companies and we look forward to supporting Syngenta as they build their presence here.”