£937m Irish investment into the UK to create Doncaster jobs, says PM
Jobs are set to be created in Doncaster thanks to £937 million in new investment from companies in Ireland, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said.
The investment is expected to create around 850 jobs across Doncaster, London, South Wales and Scotland.
Johnston Fitout Group, a leading provider of fitout, retail technology and project management services to the retail and commercial sectors, is opening new offices and a showroom in Doncaster, with an initial £3m investment.
The PM says the Irish investment into the UK is part of the “flourishing” ties between Ireland and Britain as he emphasised aims to deepen co-operation between Dublin and London.
Sir Keir was greeted in Cork on Thursday by Irish Premier Micheal Martin as he arrived for the second UK-Ireland Summit.
The gathering of British and Irish ministers included a roundtable with business leaders in the energy and infrastructure sectors on Thursday evening.
Gas Networks Ireland is to invest £170 million; Amach, the AI and cloud-computing company to the aviation sector, is to invest £45 million and create 150 jobs; and Focus Capital Partners is to invest £3 million.
Ayrton Group, which is based in Cork, will invest more than £1 million in its UK arm to boost “AI-empowered services” and double its London team.
As the high cost of fuel and energy is expected to dominate discussions at the Cork summit, energy links between Britain and Ireland will also be emphasised.
An interconnector between Wales and Ireland is expected to provide enough power for 570,000 homes, and represent at least £740 million of private investment.
Sir Keir said: “As people on both sides of the Irish Sea are feeling the cost-of-living squeeze, we are investing in partnerships that make us better off and more secure.
“The UK’s close friendship with Ireland is going from strength to strength and I am pleased that we are going further in working together on growth, energy, security and more.
“This new Irish investment coming into the UK is one part of a much bigger picture of our flourishing cultural, commercial and security ties.
“The action this Government has taken to reset relationships and deepen partnerships with our closest allies is paying off.
“It will help us withstand global challenges and protect money in the pockets of families up and down the country.”