[news from Lotus] G. Lotus Secures British Government Backin

[Frederik]

Group Lotus Secures British Government Backing
Group Lotus awarded multi million Regional Growth Fund
31/10/2011

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has formally confirmed that Group Lotus’ bid for funds from the second round of the Regional Growth Fund (RGF) has been successful.

One of the main purposes of the Regional Growth Fund is to support growth within the UK manufacturing sector. Lotus recognised that the Government was seeking applications which would enable private sector organisations to invest in projects that would create jobs and secure long-term growth. Lotus’ growth plans are completely aligned with the Fund’s objectives and will go someway towards rebalancing employment between the public and private sector in the South Norfolk region.

The grant will be put to good use supporting the industrial research element of the production of Lotus’ future product range. This significant development will go towards ensuring that the manufacturing of future Lotus products remains in the UK for the foreseeable future and in the process create a considerable number of new jobs over the next five to six years.

Commenting on the news, Group Lotus Chief Executive Officer, Dany Bahar said: “This is great news for all those concerned about Group Lotus moving production overseas, to say that we’re pleased with the result would be an understatement. We are an authentic British automotive manufacturer with an incredible heritage and an exciting future ahead, this funding will play a role in assisting with the realisation of our business plan to produce a new range of sports cars with best in class performance and emissions.

“We would like to thank everyone for their support during the bid process. The local authorities, MPs and the local enterprise partnership have all played a role in helping us secure this funding – we’re very grateful, it’s nice to know people feel strongly enough to act on our behalf.”

Business Secretary Vince Cable said: “We need to be doing all we can to enable businesses and organisations to create much needed jobs and inject private investment into the economy.

“We have announced today that a further 162 projects will benefit from the fund, and expect to deliver a huge number of jobs across their businesses and in the supply chain.

“This is a very significant boost to local communities, and the Regional Growth Fund will help businesses like Lotus to drive local growth.”

Bron : Group Lotus Press Office

[Frederik]

Heeft niemand dit bericht opgemerkt ... dit is toch wel goed nieuws voor Group Lotus, niet?

Mogen we nu aannemen dat de visie van D. Bahar nu (weer) een stukje dichterbij komt?

Misschien zijn ze nog niet zo stom ginder in Engeland, de crisis een (klein) handje helpen door te investeren in een Engels bedrijf, een bedrijf in expansie en dat jobs creëert... meer jobs = meer mensen aan het werk = minder uitkeringen en een (kleine) verhoogde koopkracht.

hot or not?

[Jeroenbox]

goed nieuws denk ik mede gezien dat de eerste aanvraag werd afgewezen. het lijkt me slechts een druppel op de gloeiende plaat. nix hot news dus.

[Frederik]

Het gaat toch om 1.000 jobs en £10m ...

[Red Baron]

Denk dat het eerder is van of je geeft ons zoveel en we starten hier in GB een nieuwe fabriek of we zetten een nieuwe in Maleisië en jullie verliezen jobs...

[Frederik]

Denk dat het eerder is van of je geeft ons zoveel en we starten hier in GB een nieuwe fabriek of we zetten een nieuwe in Maleisië en jullie verliezen jobs...

Dat hebben ze inderdaad gesteld, maar zouden wij dat ook niet doen?
> http://www.lotusforum.be/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=3016

Is peanuts tov de £270m die ze voor de zomer losgeweekt hebben, maar toch...
> http://www.lotusforum.be/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=3397

Op die manier toch wat extra ademruimte voor Group Lotus. Voor mij toch een positief bericht.

[Frederik]

Lotus Cars to create 1,000 jobs from Regional Growth Fund
31/10/2011

Lotus Chief Executive Dany Bahar says he is delighted at the £10.4m grant

About 1,000 jobs will be created at sportscar manufacturer Lotus after it won a £10.4m bid from the government.

The firm based in Hethel, Norfolk, had its original bid of £27.5m turned down before it reapplied with a smaller sum from the Regional Growth Fund.

The company's chief executive said the jobs would be created as part of a five to six-year expansion plan.

The money will be used to build a second factory and car assembly line at the site for a new car range.

Dany Bahar, Group Lotus chief executive, said he was "very, very delighted" with the news.

He said: "It was always our intention from the beginning to create jobs in the region, especially in the automotive manufacturing industry in the UK, which was an issue.

"I believe it took a bit of time for the government to understand our plans going forward and the desire to keep the production for such a small car company together.

"It would not have made too much sense to have the mid-engined cars produced here at Hethel and different engined cars somewhere else."
'Complete remake'

Mr Bahar added that that despite the worldwide economic problems, he believed there was still a strong market for sportcars and that would continue.

Last year, Lotus unveiled five new cars at the Paris motor show, in what Mr Bahar hailed a "complete remake of the brand".

With the government funding confirmed, the company said it would expect to see its first new car roll off the production line by 2013.

Richard Bacon, MP for South Norfolk, said Monday's decision was "very good news" and believed it could start a "clustering effect" of hi-tech businesses along the A11 once it is fully turned into a dual carriageway.

After submitting an amended bid, Business Secretary Vince Cable was given a tour of Lotus' factory near Norwich in July, where he said the business had a "very good operation" and the country "needed companies like Lotus".

Bron : http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-15519703