Council helps firm secure £400,000 grant to deliver jobs and growth

Cheshire East Council has helped a local business secure a £400,000 grant to fuel expansion and new jobs.

JS Bailey Cheese, based in Calveley, near Nantwich, has begun an ambitious £1.5m growth project – which is set to create 15 new jobs and new production facilities.

With the support of the council’s arms-length Skills and Growth Company, JS Bailey has been able to successfully apply for funding from the Rural Development Programme for England to help boost the business and the local rural economy.

The scheme will provide an 11,500sq ft purpose-built packing and storage facility on site to enable the business to innovate further and produce a greater volume of cheese for the home and international market.

Established in 1984 in Nantwich, by managing director John Bailey, the business has grown from a small family firm to a leading supplier of cheese to the catering and food service industry in the UK and overseas. By 2000, the company had outgrown its original space and moved to premises in nearby Calveley, with a growing range of continental and flavoured cheeses.

Councillor Rachel Bailey, leader of Cheshire East Council, took part in a ceremonial turf-cutting ceremony to mark the start of the firm’s expansion project.

Cllr Bailey said: “I am passionate about helping our rural businesses to thrive across the borough. This project will provide a very welcome new jobs boost and help us grow our expertise and reputation as the UK’s premier centre of excellence for cheese manufacturing, home of the famous International Cheese Awards since 1897.”

John Bailey said: “This ceremony marks the next exciting chapter in the growth of the business. We are very grateful for the support we have received from the council and the Skills and Growth Company, to help make this all possible and for helping us secure such a substantial grant.”