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Optare PLC

Hurricane Way South, Sherburn in Elmet
Leeds LS25 6PT
+44 (0)8434 873 200
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Optare PLC

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Regional Growth Fund to assist Optare in Research and Development

July 11, 2013 Rebecca Green
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Yorkshire based bus maker Optare PLC announces that is has received a conditional offer of funds from the fourth round of the government’s Regional Growth Fund (RGF) which could be worth up to £1.5 million.

The RGF is provided through the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS) to support projects and programmes to create economic growth and sustain private sector employment. Optare is one of 102 companies and intermediaries that have been selected to receive a conditional offer and which were whittled down from a list of 309 applications.

In recent years Optare has emerged as an innovator in the public transport sector through its development of ‘green’ technologies including alternative fuelled vehicles and all-electric buses. If the funding is received it will be used to continue its pioneering work in this area in which it has a market-leading position.

Commenting on the conditional offer, Glenn Saint, Deputy Chief Executive, said: “We are delighted to have received this conditional offer of funds which is directly linked to our programme of developing new products for export markets.

“The funding, if received, will assist in our export sales drive through boosting our research and development capabilities, and is likely to lead to more jobs at our Sherburn plant and increased overall security for the business. 

“ We’ve been very clear that our strategy is to use our market leading technology as a base for new products aimed at export markets in Europe and further afield. With the support of the global marketing resources of our parent company, Ashok Leyland, we can grow our export penetration thus lessening our dependence on the highly competitive British bus market.”

← Low weight of Optare Versa makes savings for NZ operatorOptare target growing bus market in Australia →

Working with us

As part of a global group, we are one of the UK’s leading bus manufacturing companies employing around 350 people across our business. Our parent, Ashok Leyland, part of the Hinduja Group, is ranked within the top four global bus manufacturers.

We believe that a highly skilled and appropriately trained workforce is a key ingredient to our continued success and we are always looking for people who have the necessary skills, knowledge and experience coupled with drive, ambition and commitment to take our business forward in our effort to maintain our reputation as the most innovative bus manufacturer in the UK.

In return we have attractive remuneration and benefits packages appropriate to each opportunity within the Company. We also offer a comprehensive apprenticeship programme to help us develop the technical experts of the future. This gives young people the chance to pursue a number of different skills in a selection of trades such as coach-builders, auto electricians, welders, mechanics and paint-sprayers.

Our main manufacturing site is in Sherburn in Elmet, Leeds, Yorkshire, and we have also established several service centres and product support locations across the country. 

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Optare Group Limited
Registered Office: Hurricane Way South, Sherburn in Elmet, Leeds, LS25 6PT
t: +44 (0) 1977 687 200
f: +44 (0) 8434 873 201

Registered in England No. 1818255
An Ashok Leyland Company

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