Officials say thousands of jobs could come to borough
Matthew Byrom, managing director of Panattoni, left, with Swindon council leader Jim Robbins(Image: Local Democracy Reporting Service)
Thirty companies are in active discussion with Swindon Borough Council about setting up in the borough, potentially bringing thousands of jobs, councillors have been told.
Swindon Borough Council leader Councillor Jim Robbins briefed members on the authority’s Build a Better Swindon policy and performance committee about the work of the inward investment team at Euclid Street.
Last week Cllr Robbins told his cabinet colleagues that it had been a difficult decision to set up the team shortly after Labour came to power in May 2023, given the council’s financial straits. But his report to the committee said it was paying off.
He said: “The team has already brought 1,400 new jobs to Swindon and the inward investment pipeline is one of the strongest we’ve seen in years – it has 30 active projects on the go, with the potential of thousands of high-quality jobs coming.
“We are seeing a level of interest that many other places would really envy.”
Cllr Robins highlighted the arrivals of defence drone manufacturers Stark and Tekever, with other companies in the sector also announcing they were coming to the borough.
Five drone-makers have already set up here or said they will, with another four on their way according to an announcement Cllr Robbins made at last week’s cabinet meeting.
The speed with which Panattoni is developing the old Honda site, and the level of interest shown in moving there was mentioned, with Cllr Robbins saying: “I’m not good at keeping secrets, but I can’t tell you here.”
And Swindon might also be in the running to get the Open University to come as well.
Asked by Councillor Abdul Amin about whether there was any prospect of higher education provision increasing, Cllr Robbins said: “We have a bid in with the government which is specifically around skills in the defence industries.
“Devolution will give us some opportunities with investments into specific skills.”
Cllr Robbins said the council was in conversations with a range of institutions: “Bristol, Bath, UWE, Bath Spa, The Open University, Oxford. We’re talking to everyone and seeing what the options are.
He added: “Based on the way higher education funding is going, it’s unlikely we’ll get a stand-alone University of Swindon, but we could easily generate lots of different bits of existing universities to come here and open courses.
“The Open University model is an interesting one: they still focus on distance learning, but they are looking at having a number of hubs around the country. Because Swindon is classed as a cold spot for higher education, we are in the running for one of those hubs.
“The Open University is keen to come and talk to us and I think we expect to have an event planned for just after the election.”
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