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Cosmetics firm creates 300 jobs 500 jobs created at Ford and Cosi
(about 5 hours later)
More than 300 jobs are being created by a cosmetics company at Maesteg near Bridgend.More than 300 jobs are being created by a cosmetics company at Maesteg near Bridgend.
Creative Outsourcing Solutions International (Cosi) said it is to add new high-tech equipment and increase production over three years.Creative Outsourcing Solutions International (Cosi) said it is to add new high-tech equipment and increase production over three years.
But it said 200 jobs would be lost at its toiletries plant at Littlehampton, West Sussex, which would concentrate on short-run products and research. Meanwhile, Ford have announced the creation of 200 manufacturing jobs at its Bridgend engine plant.
Cosi bought the Maesteg plant from Revlon in 2001 and employs 700 people. The firm said the jobs would be added to its 1,685 workforce at the plant to cope with an increase in production.
It has said that more than 800,000 petrol engines were produced at Bridgend in recent months.
The planned expansion by the company is to increase that figure to more than a million every year produced at the site and at its Dagenham plant in Essex by 2009.
Bridgend plant manager Bob Murphy said: "Co-operation from employees and unions is enabling us to meet rising orders for our advanced technology, high quality engines."
Cosi's Welsh workforce will go up but 200 jobs lost at Littlehampton
In Maesteg, Cosi, who bought the plant from Revlon in 2001 and currently employs 700 people announced its expansion.
It makes beauty products on contract for companies including Unilever and Body Shop.It makes beauty products on contract for companies including Unilever and Body Shop.
Cosi claims the south Wales site will become the biggest of its kind in western Europe with the "multi-million pound" expansion.Cosi claims the south Wales site will become the biggest of its kind in western Europe with the "multi-million pound" expansion.
Stuart Meldrum, Cosi's chief executive officer, said: "Since we acquired the Maesteg operation in 2001, we recognised that with the right levels of investment it would become a core part of our business.Stuart Meldrum, Cosi's chief executive officer, said: "Since we acquired the Maesteg operation in 2001, we recognised that with the right levels of investment it would become a core part of our business.
Cosi makes cosmetics for companies including Body Shop
"The skills of the people working at the plant are well-developed and they have done an excellent job in maintaining the high standards and productivity levels we need to compete effectively in a dynamic global market.""The skills of the people working at the plant are well-developed and they have done an excellent job in maintaining the high standards and productivity levels we need to compete effectively in a dynamic global market."
He added: "This investment demonstrates our commitment to manufacturing in south Wales as well as providing job security for our existing staff and creating hundreds of new jobs in Maesteg over the next three years."He added: "This investment demonstrates our commitment to manufacturing in south Wales as well as providing job security for our existing staff and creating hundreds of new jobs in Maesteg over the next three years."
The expansion of the Maesteg factory has been supported by the Welsh Assembly Government with regional selective assistance.The expansion of the Maesteg factory has been supported by the Welsh Assembly Government with regional selective assistance.
'Household names' David Allen, director of global operations for Cosi told BBC news: "Unfortunately, we're having to lose 200 jobs at Littlehampton.
Welsh Enterprise Minister Andrew Davies said the investment would help establish a centre of manufacturing excellence in Maesteg.
He said: "Cosi is one of the top 10 beauty contract manufacturers worldwide working with household names such as P&G, Unilever and Body Shop.
"This investment, which has been supported by the assembly government, means the Maesteg facility will become the company's UK manufacturing HQ.
"This investment is of particular importance to Maesteg and the south Wales valleys where Cosi is a key employer with a reputation for high quality employee training and development.
"It also illustrates once again that despite the challenge of low-cost competitors Welsh manufacturing continues to be a driver of the economy and has a vital role to play in the new era opened up by globalization."
David Allen, director of global operations for COSi told BBC Radio Wales: "Unfortunately, we're having to lose 200 jobs at Littllehampton.
"We had a choice of consolidating the cost base between Maesteg and Littlehampton but Maesteg has all the facilities we need and unfortunately we're just land-locked at the Littlehampton factory.""We had a choice of consolidating the cost base between Maesteg and Littlehampton but Maesteg has all the facilities we need and unfortunately we're just land-locked at the Littlehampton factory."
The news follows a several difficult year for manufacturing in Wales.
There is currently a campaign opposing clothing firm Burberry's decision to close its factory in Treorchy, Rhondda in March and move its polo shirt production to China.
It followed a period in which thousands of jobs were lost across Wales in manufacturing in areas such as automotives, electronics and aerospace.