Partner Article

Gateshead firm has passport to profit

A Gateshead company has won a £400m contract to produce high-tech UK passports.

De La Rue was chosen by the Home Office to be the preferred bidder to make the new biometric passports following a competitive tendering process.

The total value of the contract is expected to be in the region of £400m over 10 years.

Councillor Mick Henry, Leader of Gateshead Council, said: “This is excellent news for Gateshead, and for the many people who are employed locally at De La Rue.

“Alongside our local MPs, the council has been working hard on behalf of De La Rue to help secure this valuable contract. We are delighted that the government has now chosen the company as its preferred bidder.

“Clearly, the award of this valuable contract will help to secure the plant’s future and will ensure that the company remains an important employer in our region’s economy.

“It is a great credit to De La Rue, and to its highly skilled workforce, that they have been able to win this award against strong international competition.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .