GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) will invest £275 million into upgrading three of its UK-based manufacturing sites.

The cash is expected to create new jobs and help boost production at GSK’s plants at Barnard Castle in County Durham, Ware in Hertfordshire, and Montrose in Scotland.

Despite the current economic and political disruption following Britain’s decision to leave the EU, Brentford-HQ’ed GSK still viewed the UK as “an attractive location for investment in advanced manufacturing”, due to its skilled workforce, technological and scientific capabilities and competitive corporate tax system.

Andrew Witty, CEO of GSK - which employs around 6,000 people across nine UK sites - said the announcement “reflects further investment to support our pharmaceutical pipeline and meet growing demand for our innovative portfolio of newly launched products”. 

Around £110 million of GSK’s investment will go on a new facility for the manufacture of respiratory active ingredients at its Montrose plant in Angus, Scotland. 

A further £92 million will add an aseptic sterile facility supporting the manufacture of existing and new biopharmaceutical assets at Barnard Castle. 

Finally, £74 million will support further expansion of GSK’s new Ellipta respiratory inhaler through additional manufacturing capacity at Ware.