Hundreds of jobs to be created at auto firms bought out of administration
HUNDREDS of jobs are to be created at two Coventry companies which were bought out of administration.
The new jobs will be created at Liberty Pressing Solutions and Liberty Aluminium Technologies (LAT), as part of automotive supply chain growth which could see thousands more jobs created across the region.
The good news came from Liberty House chief Sanjeev Gupta when he paid a visit to both companies.
Liberty Pressing Solutions in Canley, formerly CovPress, was bought out of administration in January this year.
The company, which employs more than 600 people, has returned to profit following productivity improvements and investments in machinery upgrades.
Liberty Pressing Solutions makes a wide range of body parts for large car makers, including Jaguar Land Rover.
Mr Gupta, executive chairman of the Liberty House Group, also visited LAT, in Daimler Road, Coventry,
Formerly Amtek, it was taken over by Liberty House in July this year, in a deal which helped save 230 jobs.
Mr Gupta revealed it will see the first major job creation drive but said both companies would be taking on more staff.
He said the group would be investing £7.5 million to expand production and create new jobs at LAT Coventry and its sister plant in Kidderminster to take advantage of new market opportunities.
Speaking to workers, Mr Gupta said: “The automotive supply chain represents one of Britain’s best industrial growth opportunities. That is particularly true here in the West Midlands where we have the skillbase and heritage to take advantage of that opportunity.
“As a company we are certainly looking to grow in this market and believe others will be doing the same.” He added: “Our plants here in the West Midlands and across the country will benefit from our ‘green metal’ strategy which is making British metal manufacture and engineering more competitive and sustainable through greater use of recycling and the application of renewable energy. “By combining that with British expertise and innovation we are very well placed to capitalise on new market opportunities.” Ian Whale, managing director of Liberty Vehicle Products Division, said: “Following short-term investment in equipment and months of hard work and commitment by our workforce, we have put these businesses on a secure footing and from here on we are looking for growth.”
Mr Gupta also predicted automotive supply chain growth could bring thousands more jobs to the Midlands.
He said moves by vehicle manufacturers to buy more parts in the UK could generate the additional skilled jobs in the region.
Liberty, part of the GFG Alliance, now employs around 5,500 industrial staff in the UK, more than half of whom are involved in the automotive supply chain, with more than 2,000 of them based at plants across the West Midlands.
The automotive supply chain represents one of Britain’s best industrial growth opportunities. Sanjeev Gupta