140 new Black Country jobs as Diamond Bus Company expands
Around 140 jobs are to be created as part of a Black Country bus operator's expansion plans.
The Diamond Bus Company has been given the all clear to take over former offices in Tipton Road, Tividale, a short distance from its existing base.
The firm, which runs services across the West Midlands, will create a new bus park at the site, with some of the disused office buildings to be demolished.
Diamond is due to start work on the move soon after the plans were given the nod by planning chiefs.
Company bosses said the move was necessary due to the growth of the company and have taken advantage of the opportunity to use the disused site just a short distance away off John's Lane. Diamond has just launched two new services in the Birmingham, a signal of its growth.
A car park at the new site will be expanded to become the new bus park. Part of a four-storey former office block known as The Stones Building will be knocked down along with several other buildings that were associated with the site.
The company said it expected work to begin in the 'near future' and confirmed 140 jobs are expected to be created 'in the next six to 12 months'. Most of the new workers are expected to be drivers as the company seeks to expand the number of services it runs.
Business expert Ninder Johal, who is a board member at the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership, welcomed the company's expansion.
He said: "The Black Country continues to grow and prosper and is second highest area in the country for investment.
"The Black Country is bucking a trend in terms of skills and employment, and this latest investment is testament to that. I anticipate infrastructure and jobs will continue to rise and businesses will continue to grow."
Diamond buses are routinely seen on the streets of the Black Country, with services running in West Bromwich, Walsall, Stourbridge and Halesowen. A service also runs to the Merry Hill Shopping Centre from Birmingham.
Two new services ran for the first time last week; from Perry Barr to Aston and from Erdington to Sutton Coldfield. A service to Bilston also launched in November.
The plans to create a new depot have been approved by members of Sandwell Council's planning committee.
