The Minister for the East of England, Barbara Follett, yesterday (Tuesday 13th January) chaired the third Regional Economic Forum, the group which meets monthly to focus the East of England's response to the employment, financial and housing challenges in the current economic climate.
After the meeting, Mrs Follett, along with joint chair of the Forum and chair of the East of England Development Agency (EEDA), Richard Ellis, visited staff and managers at Eisai at its new £100m campus on the Hatfield Business Park.
The new facility will include the company's European headquarters, discovery research, clinical development, and manufacturing. The site will also house the UK sales and marketing operations.
Eisai will officially move to its new European Headquarters in early March and will create some 500 new jobs in the area, including around 300 new jobs in R&D and manufacturing.
The company develops and manufactures ethical pharmaceuticals focusing on neurology (such as Alzheimer's and epilepsy) and gastro-intestinal medicines as well as oncology treatments.
Regional Minister for the East of England, Barbara Follett said:
"Eisai's decision to establish its headquarters in Hatfield is very good news for the town, for Hertfordshire and the East of England as a whole and I extend them the warmest of welcomes.
"The pharmaceutical industry is a major employer in the East of England and it is excellent to see well-run businesses like Eisai successfully weathering the current economic storm. "The package of measures announced by the Prime Minister yesterday will further help employers such as Eisai which need to recruit skilled staff. From April, the government will guarantee extra support for people who have been out of work for more than six months including up to £2,500 for employers for every person they recruit and train. In addition there will be extra cash to help people learn new skills to improve their chances of getting a job."
Richard Ellis, chair of EEDA and co-chair of the forum, said:
"The Regional Economic Forum provides a regular opportunity for regional business leaders and key partners to take co-ordinated action to help businesses and communities through the downturn. It is good news for the local economy and for people in Hatfield that Eisai is creating high-skilled jobs in a sector the region is traditionally strong in. It is one of many companies to have chosen to locate in our region with the help and advice of EEDA-supported East of England International.
"Our message to the business community is that if there may be difficult times ahead, seek help and advice as early as possible. Over £30 million of publicly-funded support for established firms and start-ups alike can be navigated and accessed via the Business Map and EEDA-funded Business Link should be the first port of call for firms experiencing difficulties."
Caroline Tapster, Chief Executive of Hertfordshire County Council said:
"It is good to see Eisai's open for business in Hertfordshire and we look forward to welcoming their European headquarters later in the year. While this move was planned before the current recession, Hertfordshire remains a good place for enterprising and growing businesses drawing on the highly skilled workforce in the county. The Council and its partners are working hard to address the challenges of the economic downturn and I am confident that we will attract more firms and jobs despite the difficult circumstances."
