Thornton & Ross, part of the STADA group, the pharmaceutical and healthcare manufacturer based in Linthwaite, Huddersfield has created 100 highly-skilled roles after being awarded a grant from the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

The grant, aimed at supporting wider city and regional growth, has helped the business invest in new highly skilled jobs in the region, focused on the production line of six well-known brands including Savlon, Oilatum, Eurax, Tixylix and coal-tar based shampoo Polytar.

The LEP support has enabled the business to establish new jobs at the site ranging from quality assurance and quality control to planning and marketing, ensuring the production and whole lifecycle of these well-known healthcare brands is effectively brought in to the wider STADA network.

To support economic recovery in the region, the LEP has a number of business support initiatives to support large companies to make investments in the region, providing hands on, practical assistance to facilitate companies’ success.

Now part of the global pharmaceutical group STADA, a major multi-million pound investment from the company into the Linthwaite site (over 100 million items are manufactured there every year) has transformed it into a STADA centre of excellence for liquids. These include Covonia and household products like Zoflora, as well as semi-solids such as emollient creams and ointments.

In return for support from The LEP, Thornton & Ross is also committed to investing in apprenticeship opportunities at the site in Huddersfield. The company is working with Kirklees council to develop a robust apprenticeship program as part of its early careers strategy and will also engage with schools in the local community, once COVID-19 restrictions allow.

Roger Scarlett-Smith, Executive Vice President, STADA UK and North America says: “The Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership is central to growth in the region and we’re proud to be able to collaborate with them and contribute directly to that regional development. This funding has allowed us to invest in the talent from across the Yorkshire area and support growth in our local area.”

Sir Roger Marsh OBE, DL, Chair of the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership and NP11 group of Northern enterprise partnerships said: “Leeds City Region is an internationally recognised hub for healthcare and Thornton & Ross are a globally recognised brand that we are proud to have in our region.”

“The LEP provides a range of support for large investors in the region. I am delighted that our team has worked with Thornton & Ross to facilitate relationships and support their growth plans.

“I would encourage other businesses to get in touch to find out how we can support their success in the region.”