Oxford Jobs – 300 extra jobs for South Oxfordshire residents

Southern Oxfordshire has seen more than 300 new jobs being created since the introduction of a new government enterprise zone one year ago.

DHL Express, the latest addition to Milton Park, Dorset, one of two major employment sites for the scheme, opened on Monday – creating 40 new jobs at its £2.5m parcels hub – the latest of 250 new posts created at the business park.

The Government announced last August that Milton would be one of 10 new zones across the country with a total of 8,400 new jobs expected by 2016 in the Southern Oxfordshire.

Milton Park managing director James Dipple said 12 new hi-tech units currently being built at the site would create another 50 jobs adding that during the past year, Milton Park had experienced “significant growth and success.”

Mr Dipple claimed there could be a £9m-a-year boost to the local economy once the 8,000 jobs were created.

He added: “The speed of job creation will depend on the state of the economy – this flat economy can’t last forever and we are planning for jobs growth on the basis of an improving economy.”

South Oxfordshire District Council leader Ann Ducker, said:
“Didcot is a growth area where thousands of new homes are being built at Great Western Park and with new houses we need new jobs.”