New Airbus Plant To Create Thousands Of Engineering Jobs

A £70 million office facility to be built as part of a redevelopment of a major aerospace park has been announced by the aircraft manufacturer, Airbus. The company plans to turn its site in Filton, South Gloucestershire into a major technology and engineering park, creating thousands of engineering jobs.

Great news for engineering jobs in South West

Airbus has owned the 12 acre site since 2004 and the redevelopment is expected to include office space and an auditorium. Construction is expected to begin in 2012, subject to planning approval.

Business secretary Vince Cable said: "I welcome this announcement which is great news for Airbus, the West Country and the UK economy.

"Airbus and its supply chain provide goods and services worth nearly £1.5 billion annually to the UK economy and provide over 135,000 direct and indirect jobs. This new multimillion-pound campus in Filton will help secure thousands of advanced engineering jobs in the South West which is a key region for the UK aerospace industry."

Colin Skellett, chairman of the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) also welcomed the investment, saying: “This is very welcome news. The West of England has a high number of immensely capable aerospace and defence companies, which is why we are well placed to become the lead Local Enterprise Partnership nationally for this industry.

“This latest announcement will help to cement the worldwide reputation the West of England has for cutting-edge aeronautics, following the securing of the National Composites Centre (NCC) last year, and the news last week that the NCC will become part of the first Technology and Innovation Centre in the UK.”