Eric Schulz, Rolls-Royce, president – Civil Aerospace, said: “This investment comes at a time of unprecedented growth in Rolls-Royce. We are doubling the production of new engines at the same time as introducing three new engines to the market.”
To be made over the next few years, the company says that this investment is part of Rolls-Royce’s ongoing industrial transformation and will provide additional capacity as it develops and tests the next generation of aero engines.
The majority of the spend will be on the creation of a facility for the testing of large civil aero engines in Derby, the home of Rolls-Royce’s civil aerospace division. The new testbed will be able to handle a range of engines, including the Trent XWB, which powers the Airbus A350 XWB, the world’s fastest-selling civil large engine with over 1,600 on order from 45 customers in 31 countries.
Investment will also be made in its large engine maintenance repair and overhaul (MRO) facility in Derby, as well as in in manufacturing facilities in Derby and Hucknall, Nottinghamshire. Rolls-Royce has also committed to retaining its Precision Machining Facility (PMF) in Derby, which the company had previously announced it would close.
Says Rolls-Royce: “A constructive dialogue with our senior union representatives in the UK has underpinned the decision to invest in Derby, helping to sustain more than 7,000 Rolls-Royce jobs across the East Midlands and facilitating the ramp-up in engine production.”
Business Secretary, Greg Clark MP, said: “This announcement underpins the critical role the UK plays within the global aerospace sector. The UK and Rolls-Royce are known throughout the world as pioneers of advanced engineering technology. I welcome the confidence the company is showing in the UK. This is just the type of investment our modern Industrial Strategy is looking to attract. These new facilities are good news for Rolls-Royce, its UK suppliers and our economy.”
Simon Hemmings, Unite Union chief staff negotiator for Rolls-Royce (Derby & Hucknall), said: “This is a great news story that allows us to focus on the future rather than the past. The agreement we’ve reached shows how companies and trade unions can work together differently to deliver the investment and productivity improvements needed to secure the success of a business for the next generation.”
Rolls-Royce currently employs around 22,300 people in the UK, including more than 600 apprentices.
