Despite a challenging economic outlook companies in Wales have this year confirmed major expansions that promise to create thousands of new jobs.
Company: The Magic Bean Co
How many jobs are being created? 4,000-plus UK-wide
Swansea coffee franchise The Magic Bean Co announced in June that it plans to increase its 25 Starbucks drive-thru sites to 200 across the UK over the next five years.
The expansion, funded with a £10m package from HSBC, will see more than 4,000 jobs be created throughout the UK.
A Magic Bean Starbucks drive-thruThe business, which also owns franchised sites for Denny’s, currently employs 370 staff and works closely with Starbucks to identify opportunities for growth in new locations.
It intends to launch nine new Starbucks sites this year with locations yet to be announced.
Read more: The Welsh firms in which the UK Government has ownership stakes
Ciner GlassCompany: Ciner Glass
How many jobs are being created? 600
Turkish firm Ciner Glass announced in June that it was investing in a new £390m factory making glass containers from recycled bottles.
Plans for the new factory at the Rassau Industrial Estate at Ebbw Vale was granted by Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council and will create 600 jobs in the area.
The project is also expected to support 1,200 indirect jobs in its wider supply chain. Between 400 to 500 jobs will be created during the construction phase, with several hundred people working on site during the peak of construction.
Ciner Glass intends to supply glass bottles to UK food and beverage producers.
Airbus airplane site in Broughton, Flintshire (Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne)Company: Airbus
How many jobs are being created? 450-500
Earlier this year, Airbus announced its plan to ramp up production at its wing making factory in Broughton, Flintshire.
The aerospace giant confirmed proposals to expand production of the hugely popular A320 family in a move expected to create around 500 jobs.
Production levels slumped during the pandemic with monthly A320 rates going from 60 to 40 and job numbers falling from around 6,000 to just over 4,000.
But now the company is aiming for a monthly rate of 65 by summer 2023 and 75 in 2025, with the latest investment boost potentially creating between 450 and 550 new jobs at its Broughton facility.
Hen Safle Northwood factory in PenygroesCompany: The Centre of Excellence in Decarbonisation
How many jobs are being created? 130-plus
A new decarbonisation hub developed in Gwynedd will create more than 130 jobs in the area.
Announced last month, the Centre of Excellence in Decarbonisation will open at the former Northwood Hygiene tissue factory in Penygroes, which closed in 2020 with the loss of around 100 jobs.
Phase one of the project has received £230,000 of funding from the Welsh Government’s Transforming Towns Grant, with the hub becoming the main base for Adra’s in-house repairs and maintenance team Trwsio.
The 120,000 sq ft warehouse space will be redeveloped into a training facility for demonstrating, installing and maintaining products and materials associated with the decarbonisation of homes.
Travis Perkins will also relocate to Penygroes from Caernarfon with an official opening for the hub planned for later in the year.
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Company: Mona Island Dairy
How many jobs are being created? 100-plus
Back in April, Mona Island Dairy on Anglesey unveiled its £20m cheese factory which aims to have a workforce of over 100 staff by 2023.
Production at the 25,000 sq ft factory started in June producing 7,000 tons of Welsh and continental cheeses every year.
Supported by a £3m grant from the Welsh Government, the net-zero dairy is powered by renewable energy and uses traditional and modern methods to manufacture edam, gouda and cheddar and a range of artisan cheeses using milk from local farms.
Brunel HouseCompany: AllClear Group
How many jobs are being created? 100-plus
AllClear Group, which provides specialist travel insurance for people with medical conditions, has opened a new office in Cardiff in an investment that will create more than 100 jobs.
The company has already created 38 jobs at Brunel House in the city centre and is now actively recruiting and on track to see headcount exceed 100 in the coming months.
With the global travel market reopening after the lifting of pandemic restrictions, the investment is part of AllClear’s latest expansion plans.
Its new operation in Cardiff will focus on customer service and its technology platforms.
Aston Martin’s new SUV DBX707 model (Image: Philipp Rupprecht)Company: Aston Martin
How many jobs are being created? 100-plus
Luxury car manufacturer Aston Martin announced it was creating more than 100 jobs at its factory in the Vale of Glamorgan back in February.
The new roles at the St Athan facility, which currently employs 528, follows the launch of its new sport utility vehicle model the DBX707.
Tobias Moers, chief executive of Aston Martin Lagonda, said: “As we ramp-up production of DBX707, we are delighted to have the opportunity to increase our team at St Athan and create more employment opportunities for the local community.
“Our DBX SUV is the first Welsh-built production car for nearly 50 years and these new positions are an opportunity to join a team delivering our truly incredible new DBX707 derivative which is setting new benchmarks for performance in the luxury segment.”
Company: Jones Village Bakery
How many jobs are being created? 100
Jones Village Bakery announced it was creating 100 new jobs at its factory in Wrexham in May after investing in a new £16m production line.
The company is taking on 50 staff now and a further 50 next year when a second shift is expected to swing into action. Training will be provided in the firm’s in-house Baking Academy.
Hailed as a major boost for the local economy, the production line saw new equipment installed at the 700-staffed company’s new 140,000 sq ft bakery on Wrexham Industrial Estate.
Chris Jones general manager, outside the KEPAK St Merryn, Merthyr Tydfil facilityCompany: Kepak
How many jobs are being created? 100
Irish food company Kepak, whose brands include Rustlers and Celtic Beef, said in June it was creating over 100 new jobs at its site in Merthyr Tydfil following a £5.5m investment.
The company, which currently employs over 850 people, is now looking to fill new positions consisting of both supervisor and support roles at the site in St Merryn.
There will be a broad spectrum of opportunities across manufacturing, operations, IT, engineering and technical.
The company supplies prime cuts of meat and convenience foods to restaurants and foodservice operators in the UK and internationally.
Its brands include Rustlers, Big Al’s, Celtic Beef, McIntosh Donald, Watergrass Hill, Black Angus, and Hereford Beef.
Bruce Dickinson at Caerdav’s MRO facility at St AthanCompany: Caerdav
How many jobs are being created? 100
Last month, an aviation maintenance firm chaired by lead singer of Iron Maiden, Bruce Dickinson, announced it was creating 100 jobs in South Wales.
Caerdav, based at St Athan, announced it was creating new roles on the back of a £4m investment from independent asset manager BOOST&Co.
The company, which is owned by the lead singer, provides aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), consultancy and pilot training services to large carriers, aircraft leasing companies and private clients.
It will use the funding to expand upon its current record order book and strong new business pipeline – fulfilling the backlog of aircraft servicing requirements carried over from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Aldi (Image: Derby Telegraph/Simon Deacon)Company: Aldi
How many jobs are being created? 43
Last month, Aldi announced it is looking to hire around 43 people in its warehouse in Cardiff over the next 12 months.
The UK’s fifth-largest supermarket is also looking to fill transport and warehouse roles at its Cardiff Regional Distribution Centre.
This includes both full-time and part-time positions with salaries of up to £11.95 per hour.
The recruitment push forms part of Aldi’s nationwide expansion drive, with the supermarket expected to create 2,000 permanent roles across the UK this year.
PCI Pharma Services (Image: Gwent Gazette)Company: PCI Pharma Services
How many jobs are being created? 40
Last month, PCI Pharma Services announced plans to open two new facilities at its site in Tafarnaubach Industrial Estate in Blaenau Gwent.
The multi-million pound expansion plans will create up to 40 new jobs in the area.
PCI Pharma Services, which provides drug development and manufacturing services for the pharmaceutical industry, currently employs 500 people in Tredegar and plans to recruit the majority of new staff locally.
The expansion will create 40 jobs in the first year with potential to increase the workforce as the facilities scale up.
YASA buildingCompany: YASA
How many jobs are being created? 40
Automotive manufacturer YASA is creating up to 40 new jobs as part of its plans to expand operations at a new R&D centre in Welshpool.
The firm, which is part of Mercedes-Benz, manufacturers advanced electric motors and motor controllers for hybrid and electric vehicles.
YASA will lease the new building based at Offa’s Dyke Business Park. It currently employs 15 engineers and anticipates it will almost treble its workforce at the new centre.
Dandara Homes’ new HQ in TreforestCompany: Dandara Homes
How many jobs are being created? 30-plus
Dandara Homes is expanding its presence in Wales with a new HQ creating more than 30 jobs on the back of a pipeline of new residential schemes.
The firm has signed up to a 12,530 sq ft space at Fair Court in Treforest and relocated from its smaller offices at the Cardiff Gate office scheme.
The larger HQ will have a workforce of 50, of which 35 are new roles.
Dandara also confirmed plans for new residential schemes in Newport, Cardiff and Carmarthenshire, with further projects in the pipeline.
Its property schemes in South Wales will create a further 150 direct and 227 induced jobs in the construction sector.
Richard Holley, left, and Gareth Taylor of Acorn Recruitment outside the plant in Hengoed, CaerphillyCompany: OGM
How many jobs are being created? 25-plus
Plastic injection moulding manufacturer OGM is creating more than 25 jobs over the next year following significant investment.
The company has invested £5m in its Hengoed site in Caerphilly, purchasing a new factory and machinery, and is now looking to recruit more staff as part of its expansion.
OGM manufactures and supplies specialist technical plastic injection moulded parts and components across the electronics, automotive, medical and general sectors from its two sites in Oxford and Caerphilly.
The firm is a key employer in Caerphilly and the new roles will be available for job seekers in the area with opportunities to develop into permanent and leadership roles.
The manufacturer has partnered with Wales’ leading recruiter Acorn Recruitment to fill the vacancies.
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