News: Rolls-Royce's government-backed £2.5bn research and technology programme could support future growth in Rotherham
The UK Government and Rolls-Royce have announced plans for a joint 10-year, £2.5bn research and technology programme to develop cutting-edge gas turbine technologies for civil and defence aerospace, unlocking the biggest opportunity to transform advanced manufacturing across the UK for a generation.
Ministers believe that it provides an opportunity to support future growth in Rotherham.
The programme would advance more efficient and lower-emission jet engine technologies – as Rolls-Royce looks to secure a UK engine position on the next generation of commercial aircraft in the fast growing, high-volume, ‘narrowbody’ market segment – including through an engine demonstrator project. It would also sustain vital development and testing capabilities, strengthening national resilience by supporting the UK’s critical sovereign capabilities in defence aerospace.
Chancellor John Healey made the announcement during his budget speech, stating that it would support thousands of jobs across the Midlands, Bristol and the UK. The investment is expected to support for 3,300 existing jobs over the next few years, with the potential for tens of thousands of new roles beyond that.
Delivering the initial stages of the plan, which is subject to a final agreement being reached, will support 3,300 UK jobs at Rolls-Royce and supply chain partners by the end of 2029. Securing a UK engine position on new narrowbody aircraft would create tens of thousands more. As a result, Rolls-Royce and the Government will work together on a jobs and skills development plan to provide the necessary pipeline of future talent. The investment plan will also benefit the UK’s academic institutions, with university departments carrying out new research.
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Tufan Erginbilgic, CEO, Rolls-Royce, said: "This is a landmark moment for the UK’s aerospace industry. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to lay the foundations for decades of sustainable economic growth across the UK, creating high-value jobs and transforming the country’s advanced manufacturing supply chain. Aerospace is a growing and globally attractive market and this programme with Government is vital to enable the UK to compete. Working together, we can also sustain the nation’s capability to power military aircraft and secure its position as one of only two countries that can design, develop, make and service the jet engines that power the world’s commercial airliners.”
New jobs are expected to cover a range of areas from engineering and research to manufacturing – creating roles which run from the design stage all the way through to the factory floor.
The vast majority of these will also be created outside London and the South East – tapping into the numerous sites and supply chains Rolls-Royce maintains across the country.
Rothbiz revealed last year that the world-leading engineers were planning to invest in Rotherham and in March this year came the the confirmation of a £21.3m expansion project at the Advanced Blade Casting Facility (ABCF) on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham. The £110m facility is where turbine blades are manufactured for Rolls-Royce's world-leading aeroplane engines. Output is set to double by 2030.
The AMP is also where Rolls-Royce has carried out cutting edge research with long-standing partners, The University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) and where a parcel of land for development sits next to its castings facility.
In a letter to Sarah Champion - Rotherham's MP, the Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said: "For areas like Rotherham with a significant Rolls-Royce presence this agreement provides an opportunity to support future growth, help retain highly skilled jobs and strengthen the UK's position as a global leader in aerospace engineering and manufacturing."
Rolls-Royce website
Images: Rolls-Royce
Ministers believe that it provides an opportunity to support future growth in Rotherham.
The programme would advance more efficient and lower-emission jet engine technologies – as Rolls-Royce looks to secure a UK engine position on the next generation of commercial aircraft in the fast growing, high-volume, ‘narrowbody’ market segment – including through an engine demonstrator project. It would also sustain vital development and testing capabilities, strengthening national resilience by supporting the UK’s critical sovereign capabilities in defence aerospace.
Chancellor John Healey made the announcement during his budget speech, stating that it would support thousands of jobs across the Midlands, Bristol and the UK. The investment is expected to support for 3,300 existing jobs over the next few years, with the potential for tens of thousands of new roles beyond that.
Delivering the initial stages of the plan, which is subject to a final agreement being reached, will support 3,300 UK jobs at Rolls-Royce and supply chain partners by the end of 2029. Securing a UK engine position on new narrowbody aircraft would create tens of thousands more. As a result, Rolls-Royce and the Government will work together on a jobs and skills development plan to provide the necessary pipeline of future talent. The investment plan will also benefit the UK’s academic institutions, with university departments carrying out new research.
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Tufan Erginbilgic, CEO, Rolls-Royce, said: "This is a landmark moment for the UK’s aerospace industry. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to lay the foundations for decades of sustainable economic growth across the UK, creating high-value jobs and transforming the country’s advanced manufacturing supply chain. Aerospace is a growing and globally attractive market and this programme with Government is vital to enable the UK to compete. Working together, we can also sustain the nation’s capability to power military aircraft and secure its position as one of only two countries that can design, develop, make and service the jet engines that power the world’s commercial airliners.”
New jobs are expected to cover a range of areas from engineering and research to manufacturing – creating roles which run from the design stage all the way through to the factory floor.
The vast majority of these will also be created outside London and the South East – tapping into the numerous sites and supply chains Rolls-Royce maintains across the country.
Rothbiz revealed last year that the world-leading engineers were planning to invest in Rotherham and in March this year came the the confirmation of a £21.3m expansion project at the Advanced Blade Casting Facility (ABCF) on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham. The £110m facility is where turbine blades are manufactured for Rolls-Royce's world-leading aeroplane engines. Output is set to double by 2030.
The AMP is also where Rolls-Royce has carried out cutting edge research with long-standing partners, The University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) and where a parcel of land for development sits next to its castings facility.
In a letter to Sarah Champion - Rotherham's MP, the Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said: "For areas like Rotherham with a significant Rolls-Royce presence this agreement provides an opportunity to support future growth, help retain highly skilled jobs and strengthen the UK's position as a global leader in aerospace engineering and manufacturing."
Rolls-Royce website
Images: Rolls-Royce
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