CAR parts maker Gestamp Tallent, clothing firm  Barbour, and UK Steel Enterprise have received cash injections from the government’s flagship jobs scheme. 

The three North-East projects, which were pledged the funding last year, were awarded a combined £5.5m from the Regional Growth (RGF) to create 700 new jobs and safeguard a further 450, having completed due dliigence. 

Vince Cable paid a visit to J Barbour & Sons in South Shields to see how a £549,000 investment will be used to expand capacity and boost exports.

As well as seeing the manufacture of the world-famous Barbour wax jackets, the Business Secretary met students at the Barbour Academy - a joint venture with Hartlepool College which offers apprenticeships and bespoke training for people considering a career in the textile industry. 

Gestamp Tallent Limited in Newton Aycliffe hosted Dr Cable on a tour of its new state-of-the-art factory, that  develops and manufactures chassis for clients including Nissan, Volvo, Ford, Jaguar, Honda and Volkswagen. 

Funding of £3.75m will enable the company to buy robot welding assembly lines to increase its capacity to produce chassis products. This will create about 320 new jobs and safeguard a similar number. 

Dr Cable said: “Gestamp Tallent are an integral part of the automotive supply chain, not just for the North-East but for the UK and Europe. It is one of the reasons why the North-East has a strong reputation for quality engineering and manufacturing – a reputation we want the area to maintain.

Brian Francis, chief executive of Gestamp Tallent said:

“The company welcomes any financial support from central government. The RGF grant will assist the company in respect of both competitiveness and procurement of the capital equipment required to manufacture the new components.

"This investment will both create and safeguard jobs over the coming years.”

The third Regional Growth Fund award of £1.2m was announced for UK Steel Enterprise (UKSE).

The funding will help the organisation provide loan and equity funding for SMEs and businesses in steel areas across England. Funding could be for a variety of uses, such as new premises or equipment.

Over the 35 years that UKSE has been providing funding for business, it has helped create over 70,000 new jobs.

Simon Hamilton, the regional manager for UKSE in the North of England said:  “The RGF award allows us to fund projects that otherwise wouldn’t be able to go ahead, so it is giving a real boost to businesses alongside the support that UKSE traditionally provides.”