The vital combination of Wales’ skilled workforces and hi-tech
manufacturing sites can be a major driving force for job creation
and investment, Secretary of State for Wales, said today (30 March).
His call comes as Raytheon UK opens the doors to its new Hangar
119 at Hawarden Airport in North Wales – a facility which will
foster the development of new, cutting edge capabilities for the
British aerospace and defence sectors.
Raytheon UK employs 145 highly skilled aircraft integration and
modification specialists at its site in Broughton and its
airborne operations support a further 500 jobs across Wales.
Its technology is used in some of the most advanced aircraft
surveillance and intelligence systems in the world, including the
Sentinel aircraft system, the UK’s most advanced manned
surveillance aircraft, delivered by the Broughton team to the
Ministry of Defence (MOD).
Secretary of State for Wales said:
Raytheon’s continued investment in North Wales is yet another
strong endorsement of the confidence the company has in the
skills-base and the business environment in Wales, and is further
proof that this country is very much open for business.
British products and services and - by extension - products and
services produced in North Wales are in high demand. As a nation
that is part of a strong United Kingdom, our global profile has
never been higher.
Through the UK Government’s modern Industrial Strategy we plan to
build on our strengths in these fields, to make Wales one of the
most competitive areas in the UK to start and grow a business.
Richard Daniel, Raytheon UK chief executive said:
Our new facility in North Wales gives us tremendous potential and
will enhance our economic impact in the region, where the company
has contributed since 1993. We have created around 50 jobs in
Broughton over the past 18 months, and anticipate the need for a
further 200 over the next three years depending on export
opportunities.
In its Green Paper, Building our Industrial Strategy, the UK
Government has outlined ten key pillars of focus to be discussed
as part of a 12 week consultation period, inviting contributions
from industries, businesses, local groups and workers across
Wales.
With a clear ambition of creating an economy that works for
everyone, the Green Paper contains a number of proposed
announcements set to benefit the Welsh regions such as:
The Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund and foundation of UKRI,
creating new opportunities for Wales’ world class universities to
bid for UK Government funding.
Recognising the excellence in research and innovation that exists
across the UK, and investing an additional £4.7 billion by
2020-21.
Investing in digital infrastructure, which has for too long been
a barrier to economic growth across Wales. Finding a sustainable
way to support energy intensive industries such as steel with
energy costs.
The Government has issued an open invitation to industries,
businesses and local groups across Wales to visit the GOV.UK
website and help set the priorities for a modern Industrial
Strategy. The consultation period runs for 12 weeks after which
the Government will consider responses before publishing a White
Paper later in the year.
