Latest news: Lear Corporation to create jobs

The automotive interior designer is set to recruit 300 skilled workers at a new plant in the North East. 07/10/2011

The Fortune 500 company plans to fill the positions in Sunderland over the next three years. The Rainton Bridge industrial estate will be home to the multi-million pound plant and will begin by manufacturing seating foam for the nearby Nissan facility.

‘The decision will create job opportunities in the long term for the city and underpins Sunderland’s Economic Masterplan by strengthening the city’s automotive manufacturing sector,’ said Councillor Paul Watson, leader of Sunderland City Council.

The Lear Corporation provides more than 90,000 jobs for people worldwide and has a turnover of $12billion a year.

The announcement by the Lear Corporation took the total amount of full- and part-time jobs in Sunderland to 15,000 in the last decade. Forecasted to be completed and open by the end of 2011, recruitment for the first 150 positions has already started. As production becomes more intense further down the line, 150 extra roles are set to be created.

‘The decision will create more than 300 skilled job opportunities in the long term for the city... strengthening the city's automotive manufacturing sector. I'm delighted that one of the world's leading automotive component companies has chosen to locate its first UK manufacturing facility in Sunderland,’ added Councillor Watson.