862 jobs so far...but still a lot to do to achieve aim of creating 28,000

ROLES AT AIRPORT SITE ARE FIRST OF MANY AT EAST MIDLANDS FREEPORT'S THREE SITES ACROSS REGION

- By JOSHUA HARTLEY

HUNDREDS of jobs have been created at East Midlands Freeport as part of a £9 billion project, which hopes to create 28,000 new roles over the next six years.

The freeport, which launched two years ago, offers tax incentives to attract businesses to three sites East Midlands Airport, Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station, and a rail-connected business park next to Toyota.

Following the release of its guiding business plan, the freeport outlined that 862 jobs had been created at distribution and transport companies Maersk, CEVA and Maritime Transport.

These firms all have sites at the vast East Midlands Gateway park next to the airport, parts of which are within the freeport's tax zone.