As you step off the train at Yeovil Pen Mill, a welcoming sign greets visitors: “Welcome to the home of British helicopters.” Soon, however, that sign might disappear. Leonardo, the renowned Italian defense company known for its helicopter manufacturing, is at risk of closing its Yeovil factory—a cornerstone of the town’s identity and economy.
Leonardo employs roughly 3,000 local people, making it the town’s largest employer. One anonymous shopkeeper reflected on the company’s deep local impact: “I don’t know anybody who doesn’t know anybody who works there.” The factory’s presence shapes lives both directly and indirectly across the community.
However, recent remarks from Leonardo’s chief executive, Roberto Cingolani, have cast doubt on the factory’s future. After nearly 15 years without a UK government contract, Cingolani voiced concerns in The Times: “It is 14 years that we haven’t had any contract from the UK Government. It’s getting difficult for us to keep this big plant alive without an institutional collaboration. Should this not happen, well, we should seriously consider why we keep a plant there.”
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Adding to the urgency, Yeovil’s MP, Adam Dance, addressed Parliament earlier this week. He warned that the government has until March to secure a contract that could save the factory: “If this contract is not awarded by March, we will lose over 3,000 manufacturing jobs in Yeovil, support for over 12,000 jobs in the regional supply chain, and the £320 million Leonardo contributes to our local GDP. We would also lose our country’s ability to produce our own helicopters end to end here in the UK at a time of serious global tensions and insecurity.”
For a town already striving to recover economically, Leonardo’s potential closure is a crushing blow. The Yeovil Refresh project, which has invested £24 million to revitalize the town and attract residents and tourists, could be undone if the factory shutters.
Martin, a 66-year-old local, spoke candidly about the potential impact. “My other half works at Leonardo. Closing would be devastating for the town. Many employees don’t even live here—they commute from Weymouth, Bristol, and Bath.” He fears that without these workers, local businesses would suffer: no more coffee stops, after-work gatherings, or community event participation.
At The Butcher’s Arms pub, three regulars voiced similar concerns. “We’re becoming a ghost town now,” one said. Another added, “It’s the last place that’s employing people here, apart from the hospital.”
Leonardo’s struggles are reminiscent of past economic hardships for Yeovil. In 2023, the historic leather manufacturer Pittards, which employed hundreds, went into administration. Martin recalled, “The two main employers were Leonardo and Pittards.” While Pittards’ closure was met with shock, Leonardo’s uncertain future now threatens to deepen the town’s economic challenges.
As the March deadline looms, Yeovil waits anxiously for a decision that could determine the future of its people, economy, and identity.