THE creation of 100 jobs in Hull as part of the biggest single investment in the history of Reckitt Benckiser has been welcomed by business leaders.
The company is developing a £100m research centre for consumer health goods at its site in Dansom Lane, east Hull.
The move will allow it to expand the current 300-strong team by up to 40 per cent in the next three years.
Business leaders including Humber Local Enterprise Partnership chair Lord Haskins were invited to the plant yesterday to learn more about the proposals.
The cross-bench peer said: "Reckitt has communicated an impressive and high-value research investment in the city that shows a long-term commitment to the area and will bring high-quality jobs.
"The plans allow for this venture to expand over time, increasing the number of high-quality jobs, which is a very encouraging and will also put the city in the spotlight as a place for scientific excellence."
The new centre, which is yet to gain planning approval, was announced by Chancellor George Osborne in July.
Giving more details yesterday morning, senior global research and development vice-president Sharon James said: "The whole point of the centre for scientific excellence is to create this environment for innovation and entrepreneurship.
"We looked at a whole range of criteria, from availability of talent, the environment for intellectual property, and breadth and depth of skills.
"We have a 200-year history in Hull and we've got such strength and depth of health capability here."
The 13,000sq ft centre will house laboratories and testing chambers for developing Reckitt's health range, including products such as Lemsip and Nurofen. Construction is set to start in 2016 and should be completed two years later.
Reckitt, which was rebranded as RB earlier this year, is keen to involve East Yorkshire firms in the building work, which is the biggest single investment in its history, as well as appointing an overall main contractor.
The firm has expanded rapidly in the consumer healthcare market and is now the seventh-largest player in the world.
It said the investment would allow it to move further up the rankings.
All the new jobs are likely to be for graduates or higher-skilled workers, but the company stressed it would have a knock-on effect for the regional economy.
Ms James said: "We have an ambition to be higher. We had grown to the point where we needed to make that additional investment.
"We're focused on dealing with a lot of local companies as well and hopefully that will have an impact.
"There will be opportunities for the whole spectrum of development.
"Bringing new, bright graduates into the business is extremely important for building for the future."
Reckitt also contributes to the region's leisure income.
It pays for 2,500 nights in Hull hotels every year when employees visit the city, company figures suggest.
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