An investment of £220 million is to be made by
BAE Systems in upgrading its site in Rochester, Kent, where a 1,600-strong workforce at the Electronic Systems business specialises in advanced aerospace technologies; these include head-up displays, helmet-mounted displays, flight control computers and active control sticks for civil and military aircraft globally.
The site, which is also part of Electronic Systems’ global support service centre providing repairs to commercial airliners every day of the year, will undergo significant renovation to create a new ‘state of the art’ factory of more than 32,000m
2. This new facility will combine manufacturing, engineering and office space that will provide a refreshed, modern, and flexible working environment. The investment also includes improvements to utilities, car parking and office refurbishments across the site. Moreover, the company expects that the increased capacity will provide a more-efficient and sustainable facility that will enable it to create 300 jobs over the next five years.
Dave Banks, BAE Systems’ Rochester Business Centre director, said: “Our workforce plays a vital role in delivering products that are of the utmost importance to national security and commercial aviation. This significant investment will help us attract additional highly skilled jobs to the Medway area, thereby ensuring that we can deliver for our customers who depend on our products to complete their missions. Work is already underway to prepare the site for the major redevelopment, which is due to start in 2025.
Councillor Vince Maple, leader of Medway Council, added: “As our largest private sector employer, this is a strong vote of confidence from BAE Systems that Medway is a great place for businesses to invest and grow. As well as boosting the local economy, this investment will provide even more skilled employment opportunities for local people, help develop young talent and encourage others to base their businesses here. This is fantastic news for Medway.”
The project is the latest investment that BAE Systems is making in its UK facilities. A £300 million transformation of shipbuilding facilities is underway in Glasgow and more than £200 million is being spent on upgrading its UK munitions business to meet increased demand.