Ministers visit David Brown

Famed for creating the DB Aston Martin, David Brown Gear Systems received a visit from Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and Business Secretary Vince Cable yesterday after securing £2m from the Government's Regional Growth Fund.

The manufacturing firm is investing an additional £2.8m as part of a project to extend its activities in the renewable energy market by creating a wind turbine research centre in partnership with the University of Huddersfield

The investment is expected to create around 80 new jobs at David Brown.

Mr Cable said: “This is a great boost to the economy in Huddersfield. The investment of £2 million announced today for David Brown and the support for the Centre of Innovative Manufacturing will help businesses in the area expand their capabilities.

"Support of this kind is vital if we are to help businesses create jobs where they are most needed and lever in important private sector investment. I’m looking forward to making more announcements of this kind in the coming weeks.”

The two men were given a tour of David Brown's Huddersfield site and had the chance to speak to engineers and apprentices.

David Brown's managing director for wind Ian Farquhar said: "At David Brown we strive to be experts in the gearing technologies of tomorrow – be it in transport, energy or industry – to ensure sustainable growth of our operations in the UK and around the world.

"There’s a lot the Government can do to help create an environment in which companies like David Brown flourish, for example through the further development of a world class port infrastructure, through funding support for new manufacturing and testing facilities – like the grant we’re receiving today - and through assistance with our skills initiatives.”

For more information about David Brown, read their case study here.