Northern Ireland bus manufacturer Wrightbus is bringing hundreds more job opportunities to the region following an exciting announcement.

The company is set to boost its Ballymena headquarters with up to 300 permanent jobs following a period of significant growth thanks to its zero-emission passenger transport.

The Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Councillor William McCaughey has welcomed the new investment from Wrightbus, lauding it as a "major boost" for the Borough.

"The strong growth trajectory and success experienced by Wrightbus over the past two years, despite challenges posed by the global pandemic, is testament to the outstanding resilience and ambition of the business, its leadership and its employees," he said.

"This significant job creation not only brings a major economic boost to Mid and East Antrim and the wider Northern Ireland economy but serves as a ringing endorsement for the Borough's long-established reputation as a hub for advanced manufacturing."

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Through its industry-led Manufacturing Task Force, Mid and East Antrim Borough Council is driving an ambitious strategy to cement the Borough's position as a CleanTech Centre of excellence with a particular focus on hydrogen.

"The Manufacturing Task Force was formed to work closely with companies like Wrightbus in providing a robust platform to support economic growth of the production sector through job creation, inward investment and skills development," Cllr McCaughey commented.

"Part of our long-term vision is to establish a hydrogen hub in the Borough as part of the government's wider green energy revolution, which will include the development of our innovative hydrogen training academy to provide bespoke training to support Northern Ireland's growth in the renewables sector.

"That one of our local companies is already making such great strides in hydrogen and electric-powered transport for the global market signals strong confidence in the Borough's long-term potential in this sector."

Congratulating Wrightbus on its success, Councillor Gregg McKeen, chair of the Council's Borough Growth Committee, added: "Council has enjoyed a longstanding, collaborative relationship with Wrightbus for many years as one of the Borough's leading employers and exporters. We remain committed to doing everything we can to support the company as it progresses to this next exciting phase in its growth journey.

"I extend my warmest congratulations to Wrightbus and wish the company and its new and existing employees every continued success."