AN industrial site in Dorchester could be capable of producing a thousand jobs within a few years.

Dorset Council's deputy leader, Cllr Richard Biggs, says the authority, which owns the Winfrith Innovation Park, is aiming for 1,000 jobs by 2029.

He describes the site as one of the county's best-kept secrets but says it is on track to expand and provide new positions for many of the county's young people, many of which are likely to be defence-related and relatively well-paid with good career opportunities.

"We are trying toe expand. There are a lot of businesses here doing really important work , critical for the UK at the moment… and there is so much potential for future expansion: a lot of companies are showing interest in creating a lot of jobs and that means we need young people to know that we are here," said the Cabinet post-holder whose brief included economic development.

Cllr Biggs, the councillor for Poundbury, says there are existing companies on the site seeking to expand and new companies which are interested in moving in.

"The potential is here and, of course, it's an Enterprise Zone which has advantages for tax and other issues like that," he said.

Cllr Biggs said apprentices likely to come to work on the site are likely to be well paid and rewarded with a good career.

He said that development of the site has now turned a corner with a professional team getting to grips with the challenges, something which, he admits the council when it was trying to run the site on its own, could have been better at.

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"We own the site and we're in the background, not being a hinderance, being positive and letting the experts have first-touch with employers," he said.

Cllr Biggs says he believes the site location is an advantage with the county having a strong record in defence with military installations at Bovington and Lulworth nearby and Portland, where sea trials are carried out, also close.

"There's strong links and there are still businesses in the Weymouth and Portland area linked to defence, so we're well-known in the defence sector and its in a good location… a train line just down the road which links to London and Bournemouth and Poole."

See and hear the interview with Cllr Biggs in full – https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1LfGfUuNKL/