Direct Welsh Government investment in businesses totalling in
excess of £600m has seen more than 40,000 jobs created or
safeguarded across Wales during this government term.
As part of the £600m, the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy
and Planning, is today announcing close to
£10m to support close to 700 jobs at three businesses across
Wales.
Through investment made in loans, equity and grants, the Welsh
Government is making significant progress delivering on its
commitment to building a stronger, fairer, and greener economy.
Boccard UK Ltd, based in North Wales, is receiving Economy
Futures Funding of £1.2m to secure a move to a substantial new
unit and significantly increase its fully digitised manufacturing
capacity.
This will help the company, which is headquartered in France, to
retain its market leading position in the nuclear sector in
Wales, safeguarding 59 jobs and creating in excess of 150 new
positions.
An £8m Welsh Government investment is also contributing to
safeguarding 325 jobs at WEPA, in Bridgend.
It is part of a significant investment by the company, which
specialises in the production and distribution of sustainable
hygiene paper and innovative hygiene solutions, to reduce energy
consumption at its Maesteg site and boost production capacity.
Further funding of £540,000 is also helping bring an old factory,
which closed in 2022 with the loss of 60 jobs, back into use in
Clydach Vale, near Tonypandy.
Coppice, an international manufacturer and supplier of packaging
to the food industry will create 83 jobs at the new operation,
with this number potentially increasing to 150 in the next five
years.
Speaking during a visit to Boccard's new site in Deeside,
Flintshire, Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning,
, said:
“The Welsh Government is proud that we have supported over 40,000
jobs since the start of this Senedd term through our business
support programmes. We have rolled our sleeves up to deliver for
businesses, communities, and thousands of workers across Wales –
like those here at Boccard, which is exactly the sort of
overseas-owned company we are looking to attract at our
Investment Summit later this year.
“From direct business support to property investment and
long-term regional planning, we are not just supporting
businesses and job creation but building the infrastructure and
conditions that will enable Welsh businesses to grow, invest, and
future-proof their operations.
“We will continue to make Wales a place where good jobs, strong
businesses, and thriving communities are the foundation of a
stronger, fairer, and greener economy.”
McQueen, Managing Director of
Boccard UK, said:
“Boccard is delighted with the support from the Welsh Government
in securing the Economy Future Funding, which underpins our
commitment to creating highly skilled jobs in Deeside. This is
growing the UK's nuclear and industrial supply chain which is key
in our challenge to meet net zero targets.”
Leon Elston, Managing Director of Coppice/Sirane, said:
“We are delighted to announce the establishment of our new
manufacturing facility, following the recent acquisition of
Sirane. This exciting expansion marks a significant milestone for
the Coppice Group, further broadening our food packaging
portfolio and reinforcing our position as a market leader in
sustainable packaging solutions.
“Our continued success is rooted in strong employee engagement
and meaningful collaboration with the communities in which we
operate. The opportunity to invest in the Cambrian site and
support employment regeneration in the Rhondda was a compelling
factor in our decision. This new facility provides a strategic
platform to scale operations and enhance our presence in both
current and emerging markets, whilst making a positive
contribution to the local economy.
“This project has been made possible through the invaluable
support of the Welsh Government. Their funding played a pivotal
role in our investment decision and enabled the development of
this purpose-built manufacturing site.
“As we move forward, we extend our sincere thanks to the Welsh
Government for their continued collaboration and commitment to
Coppice's ambitious growth plans. The integration of Sirane and
the Cambrian facility will be instrumental in achieving our
mission to be the global supplier of choice for sustainable
packaging."
WEPA Mill Manager Jordi Goma-Camps Trave said:
“We highly appreciate that the Welsh Government supports
this important project for WEPA. It will not only improve the
sustainability of our manufacturing process, but also increases
our production capacity and contributes to the future viability
of the site.”
Notes to editors
For more information on Boccard UK Ltd visit: Welcome to Boccard -
Boccard
For more information on WEPA, visit: https://www.wepa.eu/en/
For more information on Coppice/ Sirane visit: https://coppice.net/
https://www.sirane.com/en/
