New business could bring up to 760 new jobs to Oldham

A food processing business could bring more than 500 blue collar jobs to Oldham borough, it has been confirmed.

Inspired Global Cuisine (IGC) and Ergo could be due to move into a recently built warehouse on Lydia Becker Way, Chadderton, where it will employ between 550 to 760 employees. 

Around 200 of the jobs would be available to people from the local area, according to IGC.

These could go some way to plugging the employment hole left by the recent departure of Yodel from their distribution site in nearby Shaw, which saw 350 jobs lost. 

Speaking at a planning meeting, councillor Peter Davies welcomed a planning application that sought to expand the use of the warehouse.

IGC, who already have more than 150 different lines in the UK and internationally, requested a ‘flexible use’ for the manufacturing of their ready meals, soups and sauces. 

Coun Davies said: “This is why we have planning.

"It brings employment to the area, jobs.

"We haven’t got the money to do all this ourselves as a council but with this coming to planning, it brings good, decent jobs, manufacturing, and whoever it is coming in, I’d like to thank them for investing in Oldham.” 

IGC, who supply supermarkets such as Icelands, are looking to take over a warehouse at 369 Lydia Becker Way.

The two-storey warehouse was built with the backing of Ergo in 2022 and includes more than 33,000 square metres of warehouse space and 10,000 sqm of office space, along with more than 300 car parking spaces. 

The space comes with permission to operate 24 hours a day. 

In an application, an IGC spokesperson wrote: “The proposed change of use will facilitate in the region of 550 jobs, almost all of which will be full time.

"It is anticipated approximately 300 of these will be staff moving from their existing premises but with approximately 200 new roles created initially which will be primarily filled by local residents. 

“Ultimately it is anticipated that the proposed operation will provide 760 FTE jobs on site.”

The application, unanimously approved by Oldham council on October 16, only secures permission to use the site as a food distribution centre.

Council officers noted that the company would need to put in a separate application for any changes to the building. 

The application received one objection, which raised concerns about noise and smell coming from the food production site, which borders onto Radycliffe School and two residential areas.

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