AN ADDITIONAL £42 million of economic benefit per year and 1,100 new jobs are forecast as the new blade mould arrives at MHI Vestas' Isle of Wight factory.

Following the company's recruitment kick-off in October, MHI Vestas has received its new blade mould and major preparations are underway to begin production early next year.

The arrival of the mould signals a chief milestone in the company's manufacturing expansion efforts, which promises to add new jobs and millions of pounds per year to the Solent region once fully operational.

The Solent region:

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Minister for energy and clean growth, Claire Perry, said: "The UK is the global home of offshore wind, housing the world's largest offshore wind farm, with over six per cent of our home-grown electricity coming from clean wind power.

"This Offshore Wind Week, MHI Vestas is contributing to this success story, creating hundreds of new skilled jobs and driving regional growth with £42 million of additional economic benefit expected."

Ms Perry said that as part of the modern industrial strategy, the Offshore Wind Sector Deal will create the right business conditions to export the expertise MHI Vestas helps to grow around the world.

Offshore wind has become one of the UK’s biggest growth industries, thanks in part to companies like MHI Vestas which continues to invest heavily as it establishes a world-class manufacturing centre in the South and keeps pace with surging demand.

MHI Vestas VP of blades, Bo Jensen, said: "This expansion effort is one of the most ambitious blade initiatives we have ever undertaken. In close cooperation with the Isle of Wight Council, Isle of Wight College and Solent Local Enterprise Partnership, our training and certification programs are paving the way for the next generation of offshore wind specialists.

"This development of green energy manufacturing skills will not only benefit MHI Vestas but will also serve to elevate the regional composites industry as well."

Julian Brown, MHI Vestas UK country manager, said this is offshore wind at its finest — "large scale manufacturing, sustainable jobs, considerable economic benefit to local communities and a green energy source driving a carbon-free futures.

"Among all the uncertainty these days, it's quite a remarkable image: a massive blade mould comes to the UK with hundreds of new employees readying themselves for years of serial production."

Bob Seely, MP for the Isle of Wight, said: "This expansion is great news and will back long term economic growth on the Island for years to come. MHI Vestas is already creating hundreds of skilled, long term manufacturing jobs at West Medina Mills.

"There will also be hundreds of new jobs in local businesses to support the expansion, putting the Island and the wider Solent region at the heart of the rapidly growing global offshore wind industry."

An economic impact analysis concluded that, in addition to the 380 new direct jobs at the Isle of Wight blade factory and the logistics facility at Fawley, an additional 720 indirect and induced jobs will be added as a result of the expansion.

The economic impact:

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