West Cumbria Mining (WCM) is assessing local contractors and businesses to support its plan for a high quality metallurgical coal, near Whitehaven in West Cumbria.
The company aims to employ 510 full-time skilled and semi-skilled employees who will constitute up to 80% of the workforce within 20 miles of the mine.
A total of 170 jobs will be created within the first 12 months including subcontractors and suppliers.
WCM submitted updated planning information to Cumbria County Council, which is due for review “in the near future.”
The company added that the average rate for premium salaries including employee benefits would be £51,250 compared with the Cumbria average of £32,437.
Up to 2,000 indirect supply chains would be created along with 50 apprenticeships.
WCM said it would follow the Government’s initiative ‘A Plan for Jobs’ and play its part in addressing the impact of the pandemic on the region and the UK.
A statement from WCM read: “The creation of highly-paid, multi-generation jobs, with major indirect job creation and stimulus into the local supply chain, is more critical than ever before.”
The company also issued employment figures on Cumbria which was ranked highest in a recent ‘employment at risk’ assessment (undertaken by Grant Thornton in August 2020)
The total Cumbrian workforce in March 2020 was 242,000 out of a population in 2019 of 500,012 (295,400 aged 16 to 64).