Firm to bring skilled engineering jobs to Blackpool

Councillors have agreed a recommendation for the council to build a factory on the Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone which would then be leased to Multi-Ply Components Ltd.

Financial details have been kept confidential, but the proposal is expected to generate business rates of £75,000 a year plus rent for the 25-year period of the lease.

The company, which was set up 20 years ago and makes components for medical X-ray equipment, is currently based at Inskip but needs to expand.

It currently employs 69 staff who would relocate to Blackpool and expects to recruit more workers in coming years, potentially taking the total to more than 100.

A council report says: “Multi-Ply Components Limited contacted the council back in 2019 expressing an interest in opportunities to expand and deliver their business from the enterprise zone.

“The company is currently located in Inskip, near Preston, and is one of the world’s leading specialists in the design and manufacture of carbon fibre composite components for the medical X-ray equipment industry manufacture.”

It adds: “The company currently employs circa 69 staff and they are seeking to increase this by approximately 15-20 staff in line with expansion of the business onto the enterprise zone, with potential further employment (in excess of 100) over the next five years and beyond. ”

While the council would built the unit, the company would invest its own capital in fitting the premises out with specialist engineering equipment.