MEDWAY businesses are finally enjoying a spell of prosperity after more than 800 new jobs were created in the latter half of last year.

Medway Council announced 806 new investment jobs were created between April and December last year. The growth in employment comes after a partnership plan between investment agency Locate in Kent and Medway Council to generate more jobs. In total the agency secured 1,813 jobs for Kent, 45 per cent in Medway.

Cllr Jane Chitty, Medway Council’s portfolio for regeneration and renewal, said: “I am delighted with the large number of jobs coming to our area. It is testament to the enormous amount of potential that the area offers businesses.”

The new jobs created come from a wide cross section of industry. The Royal Bank of Scotland has expanded its service at Chatham Maritime by another 575 jobs in its finance and business services sector.

Winpac UK Ltd, a paper and packaging firm, has created 64 jobs in its manufacturing and assembly sector. Delphi Diesel Systems has created 30 new positions at its base in Gillingham Business Park.

Greenman Group Plc, also expanding in Medway City Estate, has increased its computer sector workforce by 31.

Another company, which did not want to be named, is extending its call centre in Chatham Maritime, bringing a further 100 jobs within the financial service sector.

Paul Wookey, chief executive of Locate in Kent, said: “Increasingly companies are looking for quick solutions to their location requirements. Medway has consistently been able to provide good quality business accommodation.”