Barnsley '˜smashed its targets for economic growth'

Barnsley smashed its targets for economic growth in the last twelve months and attracted nearly three times more new businesses to the borough than expected.
Matt Gladstone, who heads up Enterprising Barnsley.Matt Gladstone, who heads up Enterprising Barnsley.
Matt Gladstone, who heads up Enterprising Barnsley.

Official figures from Enterprising Barnsley, the economic development arm of Barnsley Council, show property enquiries from companies interested in relocating to the town were up more than 50 per cent on the previous year and led directly to 23 new businesses moving to Barnsley.

This means Barnsley achieved its highest level of inward investment in seven years with nearly 805,000 sq ft of additional commercial space taken and £32 million worth of private sector investment in premises, equipment and machinery.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

This movement of new employers into the borough, combined with the growth of hundreds of existing businesses and the creation of 121 start-ups, means Barnsley gained 1,385 new private sector jobs in the last 12 months.

Matt Gladstone, who heads up Enterprising Barnsley, said: “We are proud to have worked in partnership with so many new and existing Barnsley businesses who through hard work, innovation and ambition have invested in growth and created jobs in the last 12 months.

“We’re particularly pleased to have attracted so many new companies to the borough.

“We’re in a great location at the heart of the Sheffield City Region and there has been significant investment in new business parks and infrastructure in recent years.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Companies which have moved to Barnsley in the last year include cross-media marketing specialists Rethink CMYK, who have invested half a million pounds in their new digital print and production workspace in Hoyland and specialist machinery supplier MOBA which has moved its national headquarters to Park Springs industrial estate near Grimethorpe. Both are aiming to create new jobs. Enterprising Barnsley is now aiming to repeat that performance and help create an additional 1,300 private sector jobs in the next year.