GlaxoSmithKline to expand Montrose production capabilities

GlaxoSmithKline has announced an expansion of its Scottish production site in Montrose to support the future delivery of new and innovative medicines.

The company will spend 25 million pounds to establish state-of-the-art facilities and equipment that will bring production of ingredients for four new pharmaceutical products to Montrose. This will create an additional 25 new jobs for process technicians, engineers and chemists.

Meanwhile, Scottish Enterprise and Angus Council will jointly invest around 4.2 million pounds to improve access to the GlaxoSmithKline site and the surrounding area.

Currently, Montrose produces active ingredients for a number of medicines in important disease areas, such as respiratory disease and HIV/AIDS. These products are exported and sold globally.

Roger Connor, president of global manufacturing and supply for GlaxoSmithKline, said: "Our teams in Montrose and Irvine are world-class and have worked hard to bring new facilities to the two sites. This investment shows how highly we value our teams in Scotland."

This comes after the company announced last month that it will be recruiting 140 new apprentices over the next two years in the UK, while taking on 26 more engineering graduate trainees.