Major employer announcement key opportunity for South West

The announcement of a major new employer locating to the Gravity smart campus in Somerset has been heralded as a key opportunity for the region.

Agratas, Tata Group’s global battery business, has been confirmed as the operator of the UK’s new battery gigafactory on the Gravity campus close to junction 23 of the M5 near Bridgwater in Somerset.

It represents a £4 billion investment in Somerset, which will directly create 4,000 new jobs and thousands more in the wider supply chain.

By the 2030’s, it is anticipated that it will be contributing almost half of the UK’s projected UK battery requirement for the automotive sector.

This announcement is hugely significant and the South West Business Council has been giving its reaction to the news, and what it means for the wider South West economy.

Paul Coles, CEO of SWBC, said: “This is a significant step for what is a groundbreaking project. The Gravity campus has the potential to become a fundamental part of the South West’s low carbon future, driving innovation, sustainable growth and opportunity for the whole region. We have been liaising with the team at Gravity for some time, and will continue to work closely with them to help support the delivery of what is a hugely exciting opportunity not just for the South West, but for the whole of the UK.”

Gravity is an innovative smart campus located in Somerset, designed to foster low carbon, innovation, and clean growth businesses. The site benefits from Enterprise Zone status, great transport connectivity and access to talent pool. The project is led by Salamanca Group and aims to generate significant employment opportunities.

With members across the region, South West Business Council helps deliver sustainable economic prosperity to the region through insight, innovation and impact. From brokering high-level connections between the private, public, and third sectors, to lobbying on regional business issues, SWBC works to ensure that the best decisions are made to deliver sustainable economic prosperity for the South West; an economy of over £30 billion.

https://www.southwestbusinesscouncil.co.uk/ for more information.