UP TO 20 jobs will be created when an Indian-owned business moves its European headquarters to North Staffordshire.
Barwood Products is moving from Burton to Newcastle next month and setting up a plant to manufacture pottery bathroom products designed for people with disabilities and special needs.
Barwood needs to be out of its existing premises by September, and Indian owners HSIL wanted to switch to North Staffordshire, because of the skills of the workforce and because they do business with firms in the area.
About 20 people will be employed at the 1,960 square metre (21,100 sq ft) facility at Tuscany House, Chesterton, although some may transfer from the existing base.
The firm will use Stoke-on-Trent City Council's Jobs, Enterprise, Training (JET) programme to find new workers.
John Downs, financial controller at Barwood Products, said: "Our Indian parent company does a lot of business in Stoke-on-Trent and when we started talking about a move they were keen on North Staffordshire because of the skills there.
"They also wanted to be able to do everything in one hit when they come over.
"North Staffordshire is ideally located for us to expand our business. The area offers competitive property rates, good transport links and the JET scheme means we are able to receive help to recruit and train from the wide selection of skilled workers in North Staffordshire."
Inward investment group Make it Stoke-on-Trent, which is run by the city council and Newcastle Borough Council, helped co-ordinate the deal by finding suitable premises, coming up with funding suggestions and negotiating terms with property agents.
Hardial Bhogal, Stoke-on-Trent City Council director for city renewal, said: "This is good news for the area as it provides residents with new opportunities for employment. The fact that the business is looking to move to North Staffordshire is a testament to the facilities that are available here as the good transport networks and regeneration in the region provide a good basis for relocation.
"The JET service will help to give training and support to staff as well as residents looking to benefit from this relocation."
HSIL, which is based near Hyderabad, has strong links with North Staffordshire because it was owned by sanitaryware manufacturer Twyfords in the 1960s.
Neale Clifton, executive director for regeneration and development at Newcastle Borough Council, said: "This is excellent news. The new jobs are especially welcome in these very difficult times. We will continue to work with key partners to encourage businesses to relocate here and to make the area a great place to invest, do business, live and work in."
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