The British Executive and Rolls-Royce have closed an agreement to launch a program endowed with 2.5 billion pounds sterling (2,999.6 million euros), aimed at the production in the country of engines for single-aisle aircraft, both passenger and military. The plan, which will be developed over 10 years with shared financing, contemplates the creation of 3,300 new jobs.
According to official estimates, this initiative could inject 120,000 million pounds (143,741 million euros) into the British economy over the entire period of validity. The released statement underscores that this is "the greatest opportunity for the aerospace sector of the United Kingdom in the next 50 years".
The prime minister, Andy Burnham, has argued that offering stability and visibility to companies when investing allows solid jobs to be generated, on which the population can build its future, and contributes to keeping the country's industry at the forefront of innovation.
From the company, the chief executive of Rolls-Royce, Tufan Erginbilgic, has highlighted that the project represents "a unique opportunity" in a generation to lay the foundations for several decades of sustainable economic growth throughout the territory.
The new jobs will cover very diverse profiles, from engineering and research to manufacturing activities. Most of these positions will be concentrated outside London and southeast England, relying on the facilities and supply networks that Rolls-Royce already has deployed in different regions of the country.
The program will drive the development of cutting-edge technologies, such as advanced materials, electronic systems, advanced manufacturing processes and the incorporation of robotics and artificial intelligence, together with a broad training and professional qualification plan.
Single-aisle aircraft, used mainly on short- and medium-haul routes, are set to dominate the global civil aerospace market. According to the forecasts of the Aerospace Technology Institute of the United Kingdom, this segment could reach an annual value of 220,000 million pounds sterling in 2050.