Supercar maker McLaren in 1000-job UK blueprint

McLaren has announced plans to create 1000 jobs in a £500 million UK investment.

The luxury carmaker says it will expand a South Yorkshire research and development site, open a factory elsewhere in the country and “launch a new generation of models”.

Bosses say 1000 posts could be created at the company’s base in Woking and its Composites Technology Centre, near Sheffield and Rotherham, by 2032.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has hailed the move as a “doubling down on Britain”.

Nick Collins, McLaren Automotive chief executive, said: “We are investing in the future of McLaren and in advanced manufacturing in the UK. 

“This investment will give us the platform to grow, develop our next generation of cars and build on what makes us distinctive, while strengthening skills, jobs and Britain’s global competitiveness.

“We’ll expand vehicle assembly in the UK as we broaden our portfolio and launch a new generation of models.

“For the first time in our history, we will build our future engines in-house, and we will also scale our Composites Technology Centre, which is home to our world-leading carbon fibre development.”

Reacting to the blueprint, Prime Minister Burnham said it will “keep the design, the engineering and the building of every future car here”.

The plans come amid the Government battling a precarious economic situation caused in part by global turmoil sparked by the wars in the Middle East and Ukraine.

Earlier this week, Chancellor John Healey welcomed business leaders to Downing Street to discuss ways to create economic growth and jobs across the country.

Prime Minister Burnham added: “McLaren’s investment will create high-quality apprenticeships, jobs and drive growth far beyond their factory gates.

“It is how you get skilled work, decent wages and pride back into a place. 

“It’s this kind of partnership between the Government and business that will help reindustrialise communities and make every part of Britain better off.”

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