400 jobs as German parts firm moves into Sheffield City Region

From left: Ben Ward, of Henry Boot, Coun Anne Western, Paul Dodgson of Ferdinand Bilstein UK and Peter Storey, of Markham Vale

Ferdinand Bilstein UK is to relocate its distribution centres in Kent and Pontefract to Markham Vale, off Junction 29a of the M1.

The company, which works with manufacturers such as Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Land Rover and Ford, has agreed to move to a 225,000 sq ft purpose-built base, which is being developed by Henry Boot Developments and Derbyshire County Council.

Initially, it will create 150 jobs, taking on a further 250 staff in the coming years.

Paul Dodgson, operations director at Ferdinand Bilstein UK, said: “We made the decision to move to Markham Vale as the development offers excellent transport links to the main motorway network, which was a key requirement of ours.

“We also required a bespoke and high-quality building to fit with the company brand and ethos, and we were confident Henry Boot Developments and Derbyshire County Council could deliver this.

“Our relocation to Markham Vale was mainly due to how close we can be to some of our biggest UK customers. We are excited to become a part of this high-profile development.”

Ben Ward, director at Henry Boot Developments, said: “We’re extremely pleased that a deal has been agreed with Ferdinand Bilstein UK. The company has a fantastic track record and is a world leader in the automotive parts industry.

“This is the first deal we have agreed on Markham Vale North, which has a further 55 acres of land available for immediate development. We also have remaining plots available on the West and East sites.”

Ferdinand Bilstein was founded in Germany in 1844 and works with the likes of Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Land Rover and Ford.”

Derbyshire County Council hopes Markham Vale will eventually bring 5,000 jobs to the area and £130m of private investment. It also promising environmental landscaping, new planting and trails and wildlife habitats.