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The number of people employed in logistics jobs based in Northamptonshire is set to double in the next 10 years as the county takes steps to improve its place at the heart of the ‘Golden Triangle’, a report has revealed.

According to a survey by the Northamptonshire Enterprise Partnership (NEP) – backed by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills – some 51,750 people will be employed in logistics and transport jobs in the county by 2021.

Currently 27,000 people in Northants are employed in the hire and reward side of the sector, some 8% of the total workforce. It is a figure that has grown 10% year-on-year and is double the national average.

In addition the report found that some 12,500 people are employed in the own-account side of the sector at firms including Asda, Panasonic and Coca-Cola.

Tim Bagshaw, head of investment at NEP, says: “It’s encouraging to see a positive outlook for Northamptonshire at the centre of the UK’s transport and logistics industry. However it’s vital that improvements continue to be made to the already strong infrastructure in the area to encourage further economic growth.

“In order to bring these plans to fruition, we are working with potential investment sources,” he says, adding that the government’s growing places fund has allocated £5.9m to the county for infrastructure upgrades.

Frank Ring, business development manager at GEM Logistics, says he can see the growth curve taking place:  “With such a large ecosystem of companies in this area, it is important that we work together to continue to grow the economy and benefit from each other’s successes.”

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