Business chief hails Ellesmere Port unions; NWDA praise as motor jobs saved.

Byline: BILL GLEESON

ONE of the region's top business leaders yesterday praised trade union negotiators for their role in securing thousands of jobs at Vauxhall's Ellesmere Port plant.

Robert Hough, the recently appointed chairman of the Northwest Development Agency, was speaking at the organisation's annual meeting held in Liverpool yesterday.

Mr Hough was formerly deputy chairman of Liverpool John Lennon Airport and Port of Liverpool owner Peel Holdings.

Speaking to an audience of 800 delegates at the BT Convention Centre, Mr Hough said: "We had the two-year wage freeze. It was a collaborative response from employers and the trade unions. That has been outstanding."

Earlier this week, Vauxhall's likely new owner, Canadian car parts firm Magna, said it would keep production going at Ellesmere Port until at least 2016 and held out the prospect of new models beyond that.

Mr Hough said the NWDA could claim some of the credit for saving the car plant.

Referring to an pounds 8m training grant given to Vauxhall last year, he said: "That plant has been preserved, the workforce is still there and that has resulted from the regional development agency investment 12 months ago."

Speaking about the effect of the recession on the region's economy, Mr Hough said: "It has been a nasty downturn.

"We have recognised Business Link has a role to deliver help to businesses."

But he also struck an upbeat note, describing the current tough market conditions as an "opportunity".

He added: "Business will recover. We can survive and thrive. Businesses can use the recession to cleanse themselves and start again.

"We are now focused on recovery, rather than battening down the hatches.

"Business now needs to focus on revenue growth. You cannot come out of recession by cutting costs all the time.

"By the beginning of next year, we will be back in positive territory."

Mr Hough responded to criticism the NWDA was too slow and bureaucratic by promising to speed things up.

He said: "Pace, purpose and delivery. That's my mantra."

The NWDA's aim is to see the region become a knowledge-led, low-carbon economy.

Mr Hough said: "Internationalisation is the key to the region's future."

The North West Manufacturing Conference was also held at the convention centre yesterday.

NWDA chief executive Steven Broomhead said the automotive sector had an "extremely positive" future ahead building new fuel-efficient cars.

Ellesmere Port is in pole position to build the European version of the Ampera electric car, while Jaguar Land Rover's Halewood plant is to build the new LRX "baby" Range Rover.

CAPTION(S):

Steven Broomhead, chief executive of the Northwest Development Agency, speaks at the annual conference and AGM, at the BT Convention Centre Picture: JASON ROBERTS/ jr151009nwda-