Leonardo AW-149 helicopter. Photo Airwolfhound, via Wikimedia (CC BY-SA 2.0).
Leonardo Helicopters has won the government contract to build the MoD’s New Medium Helicopter in February. The Italian-owned company’s factory in Yeovil will manufacture 23 of its AW149 airframes.
Trade union Unite says that the government’s decision to award the contract follows more than a year’s campaigning by its defence members to ensure that the contract was placed. “The awarding of the contract secures over 10,000 highly skilled jobs at Leonardo, its supply chain and the surrounding community,” the union said.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said, “The Leonardo contract is a tremendous victory for Unite members in Yeovil and across the aerospace sector. Without their commitment, hard work and dedication, it would not be being signed today.
“Of course, we are pleased that Rachel Reeves has now listened to Unite on this issue. However, it took way too long to get this done, and we still have to question why workers were left in the dark until the 11th hour.”
The company had threatened to close the plant if the government failed to award the contract, ending helicopter manufacture in Britain. Founded as Westland Aircraft Works, the Yeovil factory has manufactured aircraft since 1915.