Government green lights Tata Group / JLR plan to build a new gigafactory in Somerset

Responding to the Government’s agreement with Tata Group / JLR to build a new gigafactory in Somerset, Phil Smith, Managing Director of Business West, said:

The announcement of the Government’s agreement with Tata Group to build a new gigafactory in Somerset is welcome news for the region’s businesses. 

“Gravity and the Tata gigafactory, which will predominantly supply Jaguar Land Rover, will drive forward the nation’s ambitions to decarbonise transport and support the country in its journey to Net Zero through advanced battery manufacturing.

“It’s a real landmark moment for the UK’s clean growth economy and will create up to 7,500 jobs while putting this region at the forefront of the electric vehicle revolution. 

“The South West, with its ecosystem of economic, innovation, academic and infrastructure assets, is the ideal location for this major industrial investment. The nearby universities of Bristol, West of England, Bath, Exeter and Cardiff, plus Bridgwater & Taunton College, means Gravity will have a pool of local talent it can work with to ensure the region plays an integral role in supporting young people to develop the right skills to further decarbonise our economy. 

“This is the leading principal behind the Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs), which Business West delivers in the West of England, and it will be fantastic to see employers and colleges working together to ensure employers are making use of these local skills.”