John Deere Moves HQ to Airport

A leading forest machinery supplier is moving its headquarters from the North East to Cumbria.

John Deere Forestry, part of the worldwide John Deere group, has already begun recruiting in the county after investing in a new warehouse and distribution centre at Irthington, near Carlisle.

The company, which sells, distributes and services forestry machinery, says it was attracted to the area because of the availability of high quality, skilled labour, and Cumbria’s excellent transport links to Scotland, the North West and North Wales.

John Deere Forestry currently operates from a base in Consett, County Durham.

This will close when the move to its new home at Carlisle Airport Industrial Estate takes place at the end of this month.

The firm has taken a 15-year lease on a former aircraft hangar with owners Dundee Tyres, and plans to build new purpose-built offices at the site.

Planning permission will be submitted soon and John Deere hopes to have the new offices operational by next summer.

The new premises in Carlisle will be the sales, distribution, parts and service centre for the company’s clients right across the UK.

The majority of John Deere’s 28 employees will move across to the new headquarters.

Greg Davis, the managing director of John Deere Forestry, said: “This move is a major investment for us and we are looking forward to setting up our new home in Cumbria.

“The excellent transport links the area enjoys is a key attraction for us, and I have also been very impressed by the standard of applications that we have seen during the early stages of our recruitment process.”

The deal on the lease was secured through Crutes Law Firm, which has offices in Carlisle, Newcastle and Teesside.

Paul Earnshaw, partner with Crutes Law Firm, said: “Cumbria is a great place to do business.

“We have worked closely with John Deere Forestry over the last four months to ensure that it secured the site on good terms and I am confident it will continue to enjoy success in its new home.”

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