DESPITE the UK voting to leave the EU, the Criccieth-based head of Germany Industry UK, which employs 500,000 people in the UK, has vowed not to move jobs.

Dr Bernd Atenstaedt, from Criccieth, who is chairman and chief executive of Germany Industry UK, who employ 500,000 people in 2,500 companies in the UK, says his company will not leave the UK following the Brexit vote.

Dr Atenstaedt said: “German Industry is disappointed that the British people voted to leave the EU in the Referendum.

“However we will not leave the UK which has long been one of Germany’s most important investment locations and markets worldwide.

“There are many challenges ahead for us now but we should remain.”

Gwynedd was one of a handful of counties in Wales who voted to remain in the European Union despite the UK voting to leave.

Gwynedd was the last Welsh authority to return a remain vote with 58.1% voting remain and 41.9% voting to leave.

The turnout of 72.4% saw 35,517 votes in favour of remaining and 25,665 voters cast to leave.

England and Wales both voted overall to leave, while Northern Ireland and Scotland voted to remain.

Dwyfor Meirionnydd MP Liz Saville Roberts now is the time to ‘rebuild mutual trust in communities and in politics’.

She said: “Firstly I must say how proud I am that Gwynedd voted with Plaid Cymru for a European future, but the people of Wales as a whole have spoken clearly that they favour the option to leave. This has to be respected.

“The Welsh and UK Governments must now work to safeguard trade agreements, ensure farmers have a living income and plug the structural funds gap. Wales must have full representation at negotiations in Europe.

“We must all work to rebuild mutual trust in communities and in politics in the wake of such a divisive campaign.”

Neil Hamilton, Assembly Member for mid and west Wales said it was a ‘historic day for Wales and democracy’.

He said: “A decisive majority of Welsh people rejected the outrageous campaign of scaremongering and brow-beating by the political and big business elites. David Cameron presided over this and, having failed, he had to resign. George Osborne should now follow him without delay.

“Wales played its full part in this victory.

“Consequently, UKIP demands that the Conservative government guarantees us our fair share of the Brexit dividend. The Welsh Government must be given every penny of British taxpayers’ money which the EU currently spends in Wales.

“We demand our fair share of the £10 billion of our money which Brussels spends outside Britain every year – that would be at least £500 million a year extra for Welsh projects, including the NHS.

“We must also take back control of our trade policy as soon as possible and slap effective tariffs on dumped Chinese steel to help save Port Talbot.

“The future is bright. All political parties must work together to make the most of our new freedoms.”