Rolls Royce to invest £140m in Derby works

Rolls Royce’ Sinfin aerospace works is set to be regenerated as part of a £300m programme of investment in next-generation manufacturing announced today.

The firm says the scheme, which also includes upgrades at sites in Bristol, Glasgow, and Rotherham, will ensure its infrastructure can meet manufacturing demand and support the development of future aerospace programmes.

A further £5m will be spent on machinery upgrades at the firm’s Ansty site in Warwickshire.

The announcement was included in UK chancellor John Healey’s keynote speech to the Labour Party conference earlier today, which set out the Burnham government’s vision for a “new age of British industrialisation”.

Rolls-Royce’s Civil Aerospace campus in Derby is the UK hub for design, engineering, and advanced manufacturing for the company’s Trent large commercial aircraft engine programmes, and houses what the company says is the world’s most advanced engine testing facility.

Earlier this year, the firm applied to planning permission to build a 32,291 sq ft manufacturing services facility at its Sinfin A works, which will serve as a round-the-clock base for servicing, maintenance and workshop teams, replacing an “outdated” existing building with upgraded facilities.

Permission for the development was granted in July.

“Our manufacturing facilities in the UK are home to the very best of British engineering talent. This £300 million investment is a clear statement of our intent,” said Tufan Erginbilgic, chief executive of Rolls-Royce.

“Rolls-Royce is committed to growing the UK’s advanced manufacturing sector and we are proud to be building infrastructure needed to power Britain’s future.

“World-class facilities across the UK will ensure that Rolls-Royce remains a global leader in both commercial aviation and sovereign defence, while supporting thousands of highly skilled jobs both directly and through our supply chain.”