Watershed moment for new jobs

Watershed Packaging has announced plans to build a manufacturing facility at Thornes Farm, which means it will become the first company to take advantage of incentives to move to the new Aire Valley Leeds enterprise zone.

The enterprise zone, which was set up at the beginning of April, covers 142 hectares of prime development land which is along the route of the East Leeds Link Road.

Companies moving to the enterprise zone benefit from reduced business rates worth up to £275,000 over a five-year period, plus a simplified planning process and an intensive business support package.

Watershed Packaging is a provider of packaging machinery, packaging consumables, printed adhesive labels and printed flexible packaging.

Set up in 1993, the privately-owned company has three facilities based in Leeds, Blackwood and Beverley.

The new premises will allow the company to move and expand its operations from its current site in south Leeds.