Egg processor’s jobs boost for Derbyshire

Ready Egg Products supplies a range of pasteurised liquid egg products and hard boiled eggs to the foodservice and manufacturing sectors in the UK and Ireland from its facility in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. Its clients include Greencore, Kerry Foods, Schwartz and Green Isle.

The firm sees the EU as a growing market but transport costs to and from its current location puts it at a commercial disadvantage.

Last week it applied to Derbyshire County Council for planning permission to build a Class B2 (general industry) unit on the Markham Vale business and distribution park.

Markham Vale is strategically located in the heart of the UK’s motorway network and is being constructed on the site of the former Markham Colliery.

The entire site covers 200 acres and will include the development of derelict and contaminated land, a new loop road and provision for a rail freight terminal. Work is already underway on a new junction on the M1 (29a) to serve the site.

New junction on the M1​

Councillor Joan Dixon, Derbyshire County Council’s cabinet member for jobs economy and transport, said: “More and more companies are making Markham Vale their home because of its location in the centre of England and excellent transport links afforded by its purpose-built junction 29a, just off the M1.”​

It will take at least eight weeks for Ready Egg Products’ application to be approved.

If permission is granted, construction is expected to begin in September. Recruitment for the proposed jobs will start in early 2014.

The government has granted Markham Vale enterprise zone status, which means firms moving to some areas of the site can apply for enhanced capital allowances, which offer tax relief for investment in plant and machinery.

The redevelopment of the entire Markham Vale site is due for completion by 2015.