Deputy PM visits Bentley factory to see how government funds are being spent

Bentley received almost £5 million of RGF money last year in two applications. The first tranche of £1.7m was to train and up-skill 500 new workers – so far, half have been recruited and trained. This was followed by £3m in November to support the research and development of a new powertrain which Bentley says will help expansion into new markets. The Deputy PM toured the plant and saw how the manufacturer successfully combines craftsmanship, engineering expertise and cutting-edge technology in luxury cars such as the Mulsanne and the new Continental GT. The minister also met Bentley workers who had been recruited as part of the RGF-funded project, as well as apprentices. Wolfgang Dürheimer, Bentley's chairman and chief exec, said: "We are delighted to welcome the deputy prime minister to Crewe. We are greatly encouraged by his comments that the manufacturing sector and companies like Bentley have a key role to play in developing a stronger and more balanced economy. "The funding we have received from the Regional Growth Fund will help us in two key ways. First, it will help ensure that we have a skilled workforce we need to deliver our projects and remain globally competitive. Second, the R&D support enables us to work on a key engine development project that will help us expand in key markets. "Bentley has had a fantastic start to 2012 and our sales show that there is huge global demand for high quality luxury automotive products manufactured in Crewe." Bentley employs almost 4,000 in Crewe and exports vehicles worth £500m per year to the US, as well as emerging markets such as China and South America.