Gateshead Council has applauded De La Rue’s success in securing a valuable government contract.
The company announced yesterday (11 June) that it had been selected as preferred bidder to design and produce the UK Passport for the Identity and Passport Service (IPS), which is part of the Home Office.
The 10-year contract to deliver the UK’s new biometric passport was awarded following an international competitive tendering process conducted by IPS. The total value of the contract is expected to be in the region of £400m over the 10 years.
Councillor Mick Henry, Leader of Gateshead Council, says: “This is excellent news for Gateshead, and for the many people who are employed locally at De La Rue.
“Alongside our local MPs, the council has been working hard on behalf of De La Rue to help secure this valuable contract. We are delighted that the government has now chosen the company as its preferred bidder.
“Clearly, the award of this valuable contract will help to secure the plant’s future and will ensure that the company remains an important employer in our region’s economy.
“It is a great credit to De La Rue, and to its highly skilled workforce, that they have been able to win this award against strong international competition.”
He added: “In the current economic climate, news like this is therefore exactly what we want to hear. It gives us real confidence for the future prospects of the area’s economy.
Gateshead Council currently working on a number of other major investment projects which, if successful, could lead to the creation of thousands of new high-quality jobs in Gateshead.
The council also recently implemented a wide ranging 10-point plan to make the borough more resilient to the unprecedented challenges currently facing economies across the UK and the rest of the world. The plan identifies more than £200m of investment that will help businesses and local people cope with the impact of the recession.