Shepley Spring officially opened a new state-of-the-art facility on Friday, an investment that could lead to the creation of 70 new jobs in York and North Yorkshire.
Formally a derelict employment site, the new facility, situated at the junction 42 site near Knaresborough, has received support from York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority (YNYCA).
Since 2024, £60million has been invested at the new facility with a further £30 million of investment planned for 2026. The investment, which has been provided by USA based company Niagara Bottling, will support job creation that includes a strong focus on high-quality engineering apprenticeships.
Shepley Spring provide sustainable water bottling solutions for retailers, supermarkets and lifestyle brands. Their efficient and innovative processes make them one of the most environmentally conscious water bottling companies in the UK.
York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority have supported the opening of the new facility by being a key liaison with key partners to help accelerate investment, such as the Environment Agency and Northern Powergrid. YNYCA have also connected Shepley Spring into talent pipelines, from apprenticeships, schools’ careers and intern programmes, introduced specialist sustainability expertise to strengthen long-term operations and identified further potential investment locations across North Yorkshire.
James Farrar, Chief Executive at York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, who attended the opening, said: “I was thrilled to attend the opening of Shepley Spring’s new facility, a landmark investment that will pave the way for new skilled job opportunities.
“Shepley Spring are a family-led business who have invested their future in North Yorkshire. This innovative facility will be one of the most sustainable bottling facilities in Europe.
“As a combined authority, we would like to continue our support for innovative, world-leading, sustainable manufacturing and encourage further investment to our region to provide further opportunities for highly skilled jobs.”
James M Smith, Managing Director at Shepley Spring said: “The exceptional collaboration and support from YNYCA allowed us to meet tight deadlines and open our new site on time.
“This partnership has helped support our customers’ growth and delivered our ambitious plan.”