Staffordshire set to build on jobs and investment boost over recent weeks, says county economy leader
Major investment in one of Staffordshire’s key development sites and an increase in visitor numbers published recently demonstrate key areas of growth which are set to continue, the county council’s economy has said.
The first business to locate at the West Midlands Interchange in the south of the county has been announced, while latest visitor numbers to Staffordshire have also increased over the last year according to new figures.
Staffordshire County Council’s cabinet member for economy and skills Martin Murray told yesterday’s cabinet meeting that Carlsberg Britvic’s new £4m depot at the WMI will bring hundreds of jobs, with up to 8,500 positions created across the whole site.
He added that Staffordshire’s visitor economy value was also increasing, now at 2.7bn per year – 30 per cent up on pre-pandemic levels. Of 37 million visits to Staffordshire in 2024, 4m stayed overnight, contributing to 31 per cent of overall visitor spend.
Earlier this month, Martin highlighted these successes and future opportunities at a business forum event at Keele University with over 200 delegates. The event focused on Staffordshire’s key sectors and included advanced manufacturing, logistics, property and the visitor economy.
Martin Murray said:
It has been hugely encouraging to mark so many successes this month and set out the county council’s position as a key facilitator in economic growth in Staffordshire.
Our Staffordshire Jobs and Careers Service has been working with the WMI from the beginning and will be supporting Carlsberg Britvic in recruiting from a local workforce. We look forward to other new businesses on site which will follow shortly.
The visitor economy in Staffordshire has strengthened considerably – now worth £2.7bn in a sector that employs 26,000 people here. We must now work towards increasing hotel bedspaces – not only for our top national attractions and events, but growing business-related overnight stays.
At the Staffordshire Economic Futures event, we were able to further establish our Invest Staffordshire service as the go-to organisation for potential new investors and ensure that as the beating heart of the country our main sectors are working closely together to boost business growth and employment opportunities.”
Watch Martin Murray give an overview of Staffordshire’s economic successes here.
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