Super yacht company to create 800 jobs
1 min read
The US super yacht company Palmer Johnson is to create 800 skilled jobs on the south coast after constructing a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility on South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) sites at Woolston and opening a new manufacturing facility at Hythe in the New Forest.
The inward investment deal was secured by SEEDA, which helped the region beat off stiff competition from Dubai, France and Turkey.
Palmer Johnson will build a range of multi-million pound, bespoke, super yachts up to 100 metres. These will be the largest leisure craft in production in the UK. The company began building wooden fishing boats for the Great Lakes in 1918 and are now an established builder of highly styled, aluminium super yachts.
SEEDA chairman Jim Brathwaite said: "Attracting a large, successful international marine company like Palmer Johnson to the Solent was part of SEEDA’s strategy with partners to secure continued future economic growth for this important sub region. Palmer Johnson is a strong global brand and we are pleased to welcome them to one of Europe’s key centre’s for marine.”
Palmer Johnson director Roland Staub said the new production facilities were integral to the company’s growth strategy. “Our UK expansion allows us to meet the global demand for our products. We are also keen to tap into the marine base of the region in terms of working with local suppliers and sub-contractors” he added.
The decision to expand in the Solent follows the setting up of a design office at East Cowes, on the Isle of Wight, last year. The new facility at Woolston Riverside will open in 2009, but in the meantime, Palmer Johnson will build prototype vessels at Hythe Marine Park.
SEEDA said the investment would generate significant spin off benefits for the marine industry’s supply chain and local people.
