The award of a major contract to build 23 new medium helicopters (NMH) to Leonardo in Yeovil has been welcomed by Somerset Council’s Lead Member for Economic Development, Planning and Assets, Councillor Mike Rigby.
The £1 billion contract for the Ministry of Defence (MoD) looks set to create hundreds more jobs at the site, as well as safeguarding 3,300 existing jobs and around 12,000 in the wider supply chain across the UK.
Somerset Council working with Yeovil MP Adam Dance, has lobbied hard to support the bid by Leonardo for the order.
An announcement on the contract was delayed last autumn and Council Leader Bill Revans wrote a joint letter with Yeovil MP Adam Dance MP to the MoD to underline vital importance of it for the local community, businesses, the county and the UK, while Councillor Rigby also met Minister of State Lord Coaker with Taunton MP Gideon Amos MP to hammer home the message.
Councillor Rigby said he was delighted the Government had chosen to go with the UK’s only end to end helicopter manufacturer.
He added:
This is fantastic news for Yeovil and the people of Somerset – it’s a massive boost to our economy, our communities which provide the workforce at Leonardo, and young people at Yeovil College training for a bright future in this innovative and exciting field – the sky is the limit now for our county.” he added.
It is crucial for businesses in Somerset and across the South West.
Our iAero facility in Yeovil is working in partnership with Leonardo at the cutting edge of Aerospace development – the award of this contract is a ringing endorsement of the skills base we have and are continuing to grow in Somerset.
Yeovil MP Adam Dance has done an amazing job banging the drum on this and we would like to thank him wholeheartedly.
iAero is a £10 million, purpose-built research, design and innovation facility, supporting the competitiveness and growth of the local aerospace and advanced engineering and manufacturing sector. This sector is worth more than £730 million per year to the local economy.
The centre opened in early 2022, delivered by Somerset Council in partnership with Leonardo UK and the Heart of the South West (HotSW) LEP, and funded through the European Regional Development Fund, Local Growth Deal and Getting Building Fund.
The NMH contract award is great news for iAero and for its mission to accelerate aerospace innovation, ensuring Somerset remains at the forefront of future flight technologies, including sustainable, autonomous and electric aviation.
