Manchester Airport bosses remove advertising promoting Deeside Enterprise Zone

The poster is taken down four weeks before the end of a Welsh Government campaign looking to attract investment into North Wales

The poster at Manchester Airport

Bosses at Manchester Airport ordered the removal of a prominent advertisement promoting the business benefits of Deeside Enterprise Zone.

 The poster, extolling the proximity of Deeside to the airport, was taken down on Sunday, four weeks before the end of the Welsh Government campaign.

 The advert was sited on a premium plot on the airport’s busiest road and visible to all passengers leaving Terminals 1 and 2.

 But executives at the airport believed it competed with the £800m landmark property development Airport City which is about to begin construction.

 Now the Welsh Government has to look  for other sites in Manchester to promote Deeside Enterprise Zone as a destination for investment.

 The fact that Deeside is just 35 minutes travel time from Manchester international airport was a main focus of the campaign.

 At Liverpool Airport, the adverts still appear inside the arrivals terminal and on a 96 sheet poster site on the key route out.

 David Jones, principal of Coleg Cambria and chair of the enterprise zone board said: “I’m staggered by this decision by the airport really, particularly after contracts had been raised and paid for.

 “Do they really think that Deeside is that much of a threat to Manchester Airport – perhaps they do.”

 Welsh enterprise minister Edwina Hart announced the eight week campaign at both airports last month as a “good opportunity” to raise awareness of the zone as a hub for advanced manufacturing with key companies like Airbus, Toyota, Tata and UPM.

 The 2,000-hectares zone has direct links to the M56/M6 and is on the E22 Euro Route making it strategically positioned to access both Irish, domestic and European Markets. It was also the first Enterprise Zone in Wales to secure Enhanced Capital Allowances for qualifying investment.

 A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “We signed a contract, in good faith, for this advert to be in place for two months and we expected that to be fulfilled.”

 Airport City is hailed as one of the biggest regeneration schemes in the UK since the 2012 Olympic redevelopment in East London. It will provide offices, hotels, advanced manufacturing and warehousing, the website says.

 A Manchester Airport spokesperson said: “The site is a gateway to our Airport City programme and as we begin construction this year, we will be looking to maximise exposure for this project during the early part of 2014.”

 Last month, economy minister Edwina Hart said: “Both airports are well used by business people and the campaign provides us with a good opportunity to raise awareness of Deeside Enterprise Zone its proximity to the airports and the benefits it can offer. We are promoting the Zone as a great centre for companies in the UK looking to expand as well as overseas companies looking for a base in the UK.”

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Deeside Enterprise Zone helps create 1,000 jobs

Zone in Flintshire is now tipped to bring thousands more jobs over next two years

N ENTERPRISE Zone set up to boost the economy of north east Wales has already helped create 1,000 jobs – with thousands of more roles tipped to come to the region.

The 2,000 hectare Deeside Enterprise Zone (EZ) was one of seven set up in Wales by the Welsh Government to boost growth with incentives offered for existing companies to invest and to attract new firms into the area.

Zone board vice chairman Askar Sheibani, said figures showed the EZ had already brought in 1,000 jobs with many more enquiries for companies wanting to relocate to the region.

He added that he believed the Northern Gateway, a £95m employment-led business, science and technology park within the zone, would get moving in 2014 with the potential to bring thousands of additional jobs.

Board chairman David Jones, who is also chief executive of Coleg Cambria, said: “The Zone has provided added impetus and incentives to an area that is already highly regarded as a first-class environment for businesses in the advanced manufacturing and materials sector.

“We have set challenging Enterprise Zone targets for 2014/15 and we expect the Deeside Zone to be a major contributor toward achieving those targets.

“We have already seen businesses, whose investments are internationally mobile, choose Deeside as the place to support their expansions.

“For example, this includes the recent £3.7million investment by ConvaTec which is expanding its operations in Deeside with support from the Welsh Government.

“This will create 67 new jobs and safeguard a further sixteen and was a significant coup given that the Deeside site was in competition with 10 other sites across the world.

“We also continue to receive enquiries from businesses who have an interest in locating to the Zone.”

He added: “Through a competitive package of financial and other incentives, the Zone is supporting new investments from businesses of all sizes, from major anchor companies such as Airbus to Westbridge Furniture which has announced plans to expand their workforce and create more than 150 new jobs.

“The impact of the Deeside Enterprise Zone is already being seen and felt by businesses within the Zone.”

Mr Jones described what difference the Zone could make for the economy.

He said: “In becoming a catalyst for investment – particularly in the advanced manufacturing sector, the Enterprise Zone supports growth and jobs within and beyond the immediate boundaries of the Enterprise Zone.

“Supporting businesses to invest and expand within the Zone creates a positive impact in the supply-chain which is felt by businesses located outside of the Zone and across the wider region.

“In addition, our marketing campaign, although focussed on the Enterprise Zone, is promoting the benefits of the wider north-east Wales economy to a business audience outside of Wales.

“We are confident that the Deeside Enterprise Zone has the right mix of support and incentives to support growth and jobs.

“This includes support for business rates, Enhanced Capital Allowances and Superfast Broadband.

“The key point is that Enterprise Zones are very much embedded and aligned with our wider approach to the economy and as such we will continue to give consideration as to whether there is a specific need for additional types of support.”

Mr Sheibani, who runs company Comtek on Deeside Industrial Park, said: “The Enterprise Zone has already helped to bring 1,000 extra jobs over the last year into the zone according to council figures so it has already been a success.

“This will step up in the coming year and there will be tangible progress on the ground at the Northern Gateway site now flood mitigation work has been completed. This will be a massive investment for the area of Deeside.

“The Enterprise Zone status brings a number of benefits. There is rate relief and enhanced capital allowances which make a big difference to companies. Grants are also streamlined for companies in the zone.

“I know of companies that have come here because of the zone and it has also given existing businesses the confidence to invest.

“It means the amount of empty units is negligible. We have available land and a good availability of power, which is important for attracting high energy businesses.

“We are also due to have this power link from the Scottish windfarms and there is a proposal for a major solar park which will again add to the power available.

“We will also soon have the best broadband in Europe. The only downside is the rail links. The line from Wrexham to Bidston/Liverpool is not fit for purpose and the UK and Welsh Government must work together on this.

“They also need to bring the Hawarden bridge station back into use. This would link together the zone here with that on the Wirral and give a major economic boost.”

The Enterprise Zone covers over 2,000 hectares providing space for new and existing businesses to grow and prosper.

It is targeting growth in the advanced manufacturing sector with north east Wales already a leader in the UK. Promotion of the zone has taken place over the border although a campaign at Manchester Airport was stopped short by airport bosses after they said it clashed with its own economic development - Airport City. The other North Wales zones are Anglesey, which is focused on the energy sector, and Snowdonia with digital, low carbon and advanced manufacturing enterprises targeted.

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Manchester Airport in row with Welsh government over removal of advertisment

The sign to promote the Deeside Enterprise Zone and its proximity to the airport was taken down on Sunday

Artist's impression of what Airport City development could look like

by Tom Bodden

A row has erupted between the Welsh government and Manchester Airport over the removal of an advertisement near Terminal 1.

The sign to promote  the business benefits of Deeside Enterprise Zone and its proximity to the airport was taken down on Sunday - four weeks before the campaign was due to end.

The advert was sited on a premium plot on the airport’s busiest road and visible to all passengers leaving Terminals 1 and 2.

But executives at the airport believed it competed with the £800m landmark property development Airport City which is about to begin construction.

A Manchester Airport spokesman said: “The site is a gateway to the Airport City programme and as we begin construction this year, we will be looking to maximise exposure for this project during the early part of 2014.”

Now the Welsh Government has to look for other sites in Manchester to promote Deeside Enterprise Zone.

David Jones, chairman of the enterprise zone board said: “I’m staggered by this decision by the airport really, particularly after contracts had been raised and paid for.

“Do they really think that Deeside is that much of a threat to Manchester Airport – perhaps they do.”

Welsh enterprise minister Edwina Hart announced the eight week campaign at both airports last month as a “good opportunity” to raise awareness of the zone as a hub for advanced manufacturing with key companies like Airbus, Toyota, Tata and UPM.

A Welsh Government spokesman said: “We signed a contract, in good faith, for this advert to be in place for two months and we expected that to be fulfilled.”

Airport City is hailed as one of the biggest regeneration schemes in the UK since the 2012 Olympic redevelopment in East London. It will provide offices, hotels, advanced manufacturing and warehousing, the website says.

Read More