Gladstone manufacturing sector boosted with Hub funding

Published Wednesday, 09 February, 2022 at 07:58 PM

Minister for Regional Development and Manufacturing and Minister for Water
The Honourable Glenn Butcher

The future of the Gladstone manufacturing sector has been given a further boost with the Palaszczuk Government announcing permanent funding for the Gladstone Manufacturing Hub, as part of a more than $17 million statewide boost for manufacturing.

Minister for Regional Development and Manufacturing, Minister for Water and Member for Gladstone Glenn Butcher, said the Palaszczuk Government’s investment in Manufacturing Hubs and Made in Queensland Grants has created and supported nearly 6000 jobs to date.

“The work done at these hubs is vital to building and strengthening Queensland’s booming manufacturing sector.

“Manufacturing already contributes $20 billion a year, to the state’s economy and employees and we want to see that grow even further,” Minister Butcher said.

Minister Butcher made the funding announcement at Gladstone’s Purcell’s Engineering this afternoon, where he also announced the business has received a $25,397 Manufacturing Hub Grant.

Purcell’s Engineering Managing Director Mitchell Purcell, whose Gladstone business employs 40 locals, said the Gladstone Manufacturing Hub had proved to be a valuable resource when the business was looking to modernise and upgrade, helping to secure the grant.

“This grant will be enormously helpful and with our co-contribution will be used to modernise and streamline our ERP system,” Mr Purcell said.

“Currently we have an old, clunky system that doesn’t allow for remote working easily and requires sometimes, double or triple entry of data,” Mr Purcell said.

“This new software will ensure our processes and labour are far more efficient, creating better capacity and streamlining our procedures,” he said.

Minister Butcher congratulated Purcell’s Engineering on the grant.

“I know the Gladstone Manufacturing Hub have worked really hard to get some great results, and working with a business like Purcell’s brings many rewards.

“All of our Hubs, including the Gladstone Hub, are focused on modernising Queensland manufacturing practices, and increasing international competitiveness. To achieve this result for Purcell’s is fantastic,” Mr Butcher said. 

Funding of $17.75 million will enable six Queensland hubs, including Gladstone, to continue to support regional manufacturers to grow their businesses and create local jobs. Each hub has established itself to build on the current economic strengths of their regions.

“The Manufacturing Hubs are bringing together the industry partners, state and local governments, local businesses and educational institutions to collaborate and grow regional manufacturing,” Mr Butcher said.

The Manufacturing Hubs build stronger and sustainable regional businesses and develop connected industry ecosystems to increase national and international competitiveness, lift productivity, stimulate sustainable job growth, and attract private sector investment.

For more information visit: www.qld.gov.au/manufacturinghubs

ENDS

Media contact:

Minister Butcher – Emilia Hutchinson – 0437 060 435