Aerospace giant Airbus has confirmed it is to receive a £1.4m investment for its Filton plant from the Government’s Regional Growth Fund (RGF), helping create 200 engineering jobs.
The funding will form part of a larger Airbus investment package, totalling more than £6.5m at Filton, helping secure the giant plant’s position as the European planemaker’s centre of excellence for wing and landing gear design, testing and research.
The confirmation, made by business minister Michael Fallon while visiting the plant yesterday, follows a previous visit by Business Secretary Vince Cable, when the conditional RGF funding was announced.
Mr Fallon said: “This important project demonstrates the Regional Growth Fund in action. The money is boosting engineering skills and apprenticeships in an important and valuable industry – for the south west and UK as a whole. There is a global competition for talent, innovation and success and this will help Airbus in Bristol maintain its world-leading status.”
Airbus’ general manager and human resources director Mark Stewart added: “Today’s announcement is very welcome both for Airbus and for Filton which is a jewel in the crown of aviation engineering.
“It clearly underlines the importance of the Filton site and shows that along with other investments such as the £70m Airbus Aerospace Park we are continuing to invest in both people and infrastructure to ensure we stay at the leading edge of aerospace technology and remain ahead of our competitors.”
The investment from the RGF will be used to help train new employees who will mainly be focused on expanding capa
bilities in key areas for Airbus such its A350 XWB (extra-wide body) family and the more fuel-efficient A320neo (new engine option) aircraft, as well as engineering research.
The innovation wings for the A350 have designed at Filton using high levels of composite materials. They are being part-built by Airbus supplier GKN in Bristol.
Filton is also working on the pioneering wing sharklets for the A320neo which help drastically reduce fuel usage. The A320neo is being well-received by airlines as the most fuel-efficient short-haul aircraft on the market.
Airbus is recruiting a variety of engineering skills including management and integration engineers, design engineers and fatigue and damage tolerance engineers.
