GSK: UK still 'attractive' post Brexit as it invests £275m

GlaxoSmithKline is to invest £275m to expand its UK manufacturing sites, saying the country remains "an attractive location" despite Brexit.

The pharmaceutical firm, whose chief executive Andrew Witty backed the Remain campaign, said the UK's skilled workforce and competitive tax system helped drive the decision.

It said most of the products made at the expanded sites would be exported.

The firm said it expected its investment to create new jobs.

"It is testament to our skilled UK workforce and the country's leading position in life sciences that we are making these investments in advanced manufacturing here," said Mr Witty.

The firm said the investment would be spread across three of its UK manufacturing sites: Barnard Castle in County Durham, Montrose in Angus, and Ware in Hertfordshire.

GlaxoSmithKline currently employs 16,000 people in the UK, 6,000 of which are employed in manufacturing.

There were some fears that pharmaceutical firms such as GSK and AstraZeneca may seek to move their headquarters following the outcome of the EU referendum.

Mr Witty had said prior to the vote that leaving the EU "would create uncertainty and potentially add complexity" for the UK's life sciences sector.

Analysis: Simon Jack, BBC business editor

GSK's outgoing chief executive Sir Andrew Witty has previously said that a vote to leave the EU would be "a mistake" as the company benefited from the free movement of highly qualified scientists across Europe and a single EU framework for regulating and approving drugs.

But the company has clearly decided that Britain's highly-skilled workforce, relatively low tax rates, and incentives for investing in research outweigh Brexit concerns.

There is also the benefit of a cheaper pound when producing products bound for foreign markets.

Sterling has fallen 10% against the dollar and the euro since the referendum on 24 June and although GSK results also due on Wednesday only capture a week of post-Brexit trading, it's expected to provide a significant boost to its full year earnings.

The decision will, of course, be welcomed by a government keen to demonstrate that the UK remains an attractive place to invest.

Especially because despite a series of high profile investments in the UK since the referendum, recent economic surveys have pointed to a decline in business confidence.