MORE than 40,000 jobs are on their way to the West Midlands in a huge multi-billion pound economic boost for the region, it has been revealed.
The West Midlands emerged by far the biggest winner in the first round of the Regional Growth Fund bids confirmed today by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg.
The successful applicants include Jaguar Land Rover – which will benefit from a £1.3 billion boost for the UK motor industry creating 6,500 jobs in total – and the upgrading of the A45, paving the way for the long-awaited Birmingham airport extension.
The massive jobs boost comes just a month after Government figures revealed that almost one in ten people are now on the dole across the West Midlands, an unemployment rate of 9.9 per cent.
The winter quarter increase in people signing on was the second highest percentage rise in the country and the highest in terms of sheer numbers of people.
But it is estimated that the diversion of the A45, and planned extension of the airport runway, will alone create almost 3,400 new jobs and deliver a £631 million boost to the local economy.
Meanwhile, Jaguar Land Rover is to benefit from a successful £70 million bid for two research and development projects which will help to secure an extra £1.3 billion worth of investment for the UK motor industry.
