Multi-million-pound Montrose boost from GSK

Pharmaceutical giant GSK has delivered a near £30 million good news announcement for Angus as part of a major programme of investment across its UK operations.

Between now and 2020 the company plans to invest more than £140m, with the firm’s Montrose plant set to benefit to the tune of what The Courier understands will be around £29m.

Factories at Ware in Hertfordshire and Barnard Castle, County Durham are also part of the programme to support expansion of manufacturing for respiratory and HIV medicines.

However, GSK has pulled the plug on proposals to build a biopharmaceutical facility at Ulverston in Cumbria and also announced the planned sale of its Horlicks brand in the UK, with the associated closure of the Slough site where the product is manufactured.

The company is also reviewing its antibiotics business, with an option to sell the business, including the associated manufacturing facilities at Ulverston, Barnard Castle and Verona in Italy.

GSK also intends to offload its Maxi-Nutrition brand in the UK and is exploring options to divest some other smaller nutrition brands.

The giant firm employs around 17,000 people across the UK, 5,000 in manufacturing operations and the announcements will result in some 320 job losses over the next four years.

Roger Connor, president of GSK Global Manufacturing and Supply, said: “We have a substantial manufacturing presence in the UK and continue to support the network with new investment of more than £140m in the next three years.”

The company said none of the announcements were a result of the UK’s decision to leave the EU.

Around £29 million looks set to be invested at GSK Montrose.