More
than 7,000 jobs have been safeguarded after the Government invested £250
million in Rolls Royce to help the firm develop two new aero engines.
The
investment will be used for the further development of the Trent aero engine
family which will be used to power the Airbus Industrie A380 and the Boeing
747X amongst others.
Thirty
customers and operators have already ordered more than 1,400 Trent engines
worth more than £12 billion.
John
Rose, chief executive of Rolls Royce, said, “The new Trent programme will
reinforce the position of Rolls Royce as a leader in the world civil aviation
market, as well as strengthening the company’s links with the world’s two major
airframe manufacturers.
“The
programme will provide a further stimulus to technology acquisition and high-technology
manufacturing in the UK. It will also sustain more than 7,000 jobs within Rolls
Royce and its UK supply chain.
Announcing
the Government’s support, Trade and Industry Secretary Stephen Byers,
commented, “The investment will provide a substantial boost to manufacturing
not just in the East Midlands but throughout the country with more than 7,000
well-paid, highly skilled jobs being safeguarded, as well as a direct return
for taxpayers from the sale of engines.”
By
Ben Willmott
