Anglo American Says Woodsmith Project Boosts Regional Economy By Nearly £2 Billion

Anglo American says it's Woodsmith Project has generated nearly £2 billion for the regional economy since 2017, alongside significant investments in education and community support on the North Yorkshire Coast.

Anglo American says its Woodsmith Project in North Yorkshire is continuing to serve as a major driver of local economic growth, employment, and community investment.

According to the company's annual Social Impact Report, the project contributed £127 million to the regional economy in 2025 alone.

This brings the total economic generation to nearly £2 billion since construction on the site began in 2017.

The multi-billion-pound investment is currently being developed to mine polyhalite, a natural mineral fertiliser, and is expected to drive growth and exports while creating high-value jobs for the region.

The project currently employs 1,000 people, with 76 per cent of the workforce drawn directly from the local region.

Anglo American forecasts that this strong local workforce will expand further during future phases, with employment expected to peak at more than 2,500 people during the construction period.

Beyond direct employment, the company continues its programme of social investment across North Yorkshire and Teesside.

This is delivered through its Thriving Communities Programme, the Woodsmith Foundation, and various planning commitments.

The Thriving Communities programme is designed to provide long-term socio-economic benefits to the area surrounding the project site by focusing on livelihoods, education, health, and community facilities.

Alongside initiatives to improve skills and create new local businesses, the livelihoods programme is forging connections within the region’s food and farming sector.

The aim is to understand how Anglo American can help support resilience across the wider agricultural sector.

Education remains a key focus for the company, particularly on the North Yorkshire Coast.

Head of Social Performance at Anglo American, Matt Parsons, said:

"We are incredibly proud of the investment we put into our local communities, not just financially but in terms of wider support for groups who need it most, like young people across our areas of Teesside and North Yorkshire.

Our education programme, Achieve, delivered jointly with the Woodsmith Foundation, is an excellent example of our ambition to create lasting change. It demonstrates that with considered and consistent support we can protect and nurture the potential of the next generation. By giving young people skills, confidence and support they need, we’re not just creating opportunities for them now, but helping to build a brighter future for the region."

The Achieve programme operates intensively with six pilot schools while simultaneously offering careers support to all seventeen state-funded secondary schools on the North Yorkshire Coast and in Redcar and Cleveland.

This initiative led to more than 9,000 student engagements last year alone.

An intensive branch of the initiative provides 150 students with a comprehensive package of support, which includes professional mentoring, extracurricular activities, and personal, social, and emotional development.

A recent major independent study confirmed that the Achieve programme is making a tangible difference to young people.

Students have reported feeling happier, more confident, and more motivated, demonstrating a greater willingness to try new things and holding a more positive view of their futures.

The independent report also noted positive changes in essential skills, alongside improvements in students' attitudes to learning, behaviour, and attendance.

Parents, carers, and teachers have also observed significant improvements in the young people participating in the scheme.

One parent said:

"My child seems to feel she can do and be who she wants now."

Anglo American states that the Woodsmith Project will ultimately strengthen the long-term prosperity of the region as a whole.

Anglo American is a leading global mining company that focuses on the responsible production of crop nutrients, premium iron ore, and copper.

The company describes these as future-enabling products that are essential for food security, improving living standards, and decarbonising the global economy.

Anglo American is currently implementing major structural changes to its broader portfolio to focus on its world-class resource asset base, which includes the crop nutrients being developed in North Yorkshire.