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| Cosmetics firm creates 300 jobs | Cosmetics firm creates 300 jobs |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| More than 300 jobs are being created by a cosmetics company at Maesteg near Bridgend. | More than 300 jobs are being created by a cosmetics company at Maesteg near Bridgend. |
| Creative Outsourcing Solutions International (Cosi) said it is to add new high-tech equipment and increase production over three years. | Creative Outsourcing Solutions International (Cosi) said it is to add new high-tech equipment and increase production over three years. |
| But it said 200 jobs would be lost at its toiletries plant at Littlehampton, West Sussex, which would concentrate on short-run products and research. | |
| Cosi bought the Maesteg plant from Revlon in 2001 and employs 700 people. | Cosi bought the Maesteg plant from Revlon in 2001 and employs 700 people. |
| It makes beauty products on contract for companies including Unilever and Body Shop. | It makes beauty products on contract for companies including Unilever and Body Shop. |
| Cosi claims the south Wales site will become the biggest of its kind in western Europe with the "multi-million pound" expansion. | Cosi claims the south Wales site will become the biggest of its kind in western Europe with the "multi-million pound" expansion. |
| Stuart Meldrum, Cosi's chief executive officer, said: "Since we acquired the Maesteg operation in 2001, we recognised that with the right levels of investment it would become a core part of our business. | Stuart Meldrum, Cosi's chief executive officer, said: "Since we acquired the Maesteg operation in 2001, we recognised that with the right levels of investment it would become a core part of our business. |
| Cosi makes cosmetics for companies including Body Shop | Cosi makes cosmetics for companies including Body Shop |
| "The skills of the people working at the plant are well-developed and they have done an excellent job in maintaining the high standards and productivity levels we need to compete effectively in a dynamic global market." | "The skills of the people working at the plant are well-developed and they have done an excellent job in maintaining the high standards and productivity levels we need to compete effectively in a dynamic global market." |
| He added: "This investment demonstrates our commitment to manufacturing in south Wales as well as providing job security for our existing staff and creating hundreds of new jobs in Maesteg over the next three years." | He added: "This investment demonstrates our commitment to manufacturing in south Wales as well as providing job security for our existing staff and creating hundreds of new jobs in Maesteg over the next three years." |
| The expansion of the Maesteg factory has been supported by the Welsh Assembly Government with regional selective assistance. | The expansion of the Maesteg factory has been supported by the Welsh Assembly Government with regional selective assistance. |
| 'Household names' | 'Household names' |
| Welsh Enterprise Minister Andrew Davies said the investment would help establish a centre of manufacturing excellence in Maesteg. | Welsh Enterprise Minister Andrew Davies said the investment would help establish a centre of manufacturing excellence in Maesteg. |
| He said: "Cosi is one of the top 10 beauty contract manufacturers worldwide working with household names such as P&G, Unilever and Body Shop. | He said: "Cosi is one of the top 10 beauty contract manufacturers worldwide working with household names such as P&G, Unilever and Body Shop. |
| "This investment, which has been supported by the assembly government, means the Maesteg facility will become the company's UK manufacturing HQ. | "This investment, which has been supported by the assembly government, means the Maesteg facility will become the company's UK manufacturing HQ. |
| "This investment is of particular importance to Maesteg and the south Wales valleys where Cosi is a key employer with a reputation for high quality employee training and development. | "This investment is of particular importance to Maesteg and the south Wales valleys where Cosi is a key employer with a reputation for high quality employee training and development. |
| "It also illustrates once again that despite the challenge of low-cost competitors Welsh manufacturing continues to be a driver of the economy and has a vital role to play in the new era opened up by globalization." | "It also illustrates once again that despite the challenge of low-cost competitors Welsh manufacturing continues to be a driver of the economy and has a vital role to play in the new era opened up by globalization." |
| David Allen, director of global operations for COSi told BBC Radio Wales: "Unfortunately, we're having to lose 200 jobs at Littllehampton. | |
| "We had a choice of consolidating the cost base between Maesteg and Littlehampton but Maesteg has all the facilities we need and unfortunately we're just land-locked at the Littlehampton factory." | |
| The news follows a several difficult year for manufacturing in Wales. | The news follows a several difficult year for manufacturing in Wales. |
| There is currently a campaign opposing clothing firm Burberry's decision to close its factory in Treorchy, Rhondda in March and move its polo shirt production to China. | There is currently a campaign opposing clothing firm Burberry's decision to close its factory in Treorchy, Rhondda in March and move its polo shirt production to China. |
| It followed a period in which thousands of jobs were lost across Wales in manufacturing in areas such as automotives, electronics and aerospace. | It followed a period in which thousands of jobs were lost across Wales in manufacturing in areas such as automotives, electronics and aerospace. |