Andy Burnham has hailed plans by luxury carmaker McLaren to expand its research and development site in South Yorkshire as part of a £500m investment in the UK and commitment to create 1,000 new jobs by 2032.

Woking-headquartered McLaren will also be opening a new vehicle production facility in the UK as part of the investment plans.

The existing McLaren Composites Technology Centre, which is located at the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham and employs around 200 people, is also due to benefit.

The site supplies supply carbon fibre tubs to the McLaren Production Centre in Surrey where the company’s sportcars and supercars are hand-assembled.

McLaren is to invest £500m in its UK operations. Picture: Stan Papior

placeholder image — McLaren is to invest £500m in its UK operations. Picture: Stan Papior

Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he was delighted by the company’s plans.

“McLaren is doubling down on Britain, keeping the design, the engineering and the building of every future car here, and taking on a thousand more people to do it,” he said.

“Their investment will create high-quality apprenticeships, jobs and drive growth far beyond their factory gates. It is how you get skilled work, decent wages and pride back into a place.

“It’s this kind of partnership between government and business that will help us reindustrialise communities and make every part of Britain better off. I want young people to see that and know there is a future for them in making things, wherever they grew up."

McLaren has announced a £500m investment plan which is due to create 1,000 new jobs in the UK.

First Secretary of State and South Yorkshire MP Louise Haigh said: "Today’s investment will create hundreds of new, highly-skilled jobs across Yorkshire and the wider country, as McLaren Automotive expands its UK footprint in Britain, including its world-leading carbon-fibre facility in South Yorkshire.

"McLaren's commitment to the region is a vote of confidence in the local community and a testament to the world-leading skills and advanced manufacturing expertise here. This government is committed to backing British business and driving good growth in every postcode.”

The Government is keen to sell the investment as a win for Britain, which faces a precarious economic situation in part due to global turmoil caused by the wars in the Middle East and Ukraine.

Earlier this week, Chancellor John Healey welcomed business leaders to Downing Street to discuss steps to create economic growth and create new jobs across the country.

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds, who visited the company’s technology centre in Woking on Wednesday morning with Ms Haigh, said: "McLaren’s investment is a massive vote of confidence in Britain and our world-class automotive sector.

"It means 1,000 new jobs up and down the country, with thousands more supported across the supply chain – that's boosting growth and making us all better off.

"This is all part of our Modern Industrial Strategy which is backing the car industry with billions of pounds in investment to help reindustrialise Britain.

“We're creating the right environment so businesses like McLaren choose the UK."

Nick Collins, chief executive officer of McLaren Automotive said: “We are investing in the future of McLaren and in advanced manufacturing in the UK. This investment will give us the platform to grow, develop our next generation of cars and build on what makes us distinctive, while strengthening skills, jobs and Britain’s global competitiveness.”