Thousands of jobs in Yeovil hang in the balance amid growing concerns that Britain’s last major helicopter manufacturing plant could close its doors. Leonardo, the Italian defence contractor operating the historic Westland factory, employs around 3,000 local workers but faces an uncertain future due to delays in awarding a critical Ministry of Defence (MoD) contract.
Leonardo was the sole bidder last year for a £1 billion contract to supply the UK’s new medium-sized helicopters. However, the government has yet to finalize the deal, sparking fears that Leonardo might pull out of the UK if the contract is not secured soon.
Roberto Cingolani, Leonardo’s Chief Executive, made clear in a recent statement that sustaining the Yeovil plant has become increasingly difficult. Speaking to investors, he said, “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 institutional collaboration. Should this not happen, we should seriously consider why we keep a plant there.”
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Union representatives echoed these concerns. A spokesperson from Unite the Union urged immediate government action, describing the Yeovil factory as the nation’s last helicopter manufacturer — but currently with no helicopters to build. The spokesperson emphasized, “The government has been delaying the contract for over a year now, despite Leonardo being the only bidder for a contract worth about a billion pounds. It’s vital the government signs this contract to secure these jobs.”
The potential closure of the factory threatens not only the 3,000 direct jobs at Leonardo but also up to 10,000 jobs across the broader supply chain, highlighting the immense economic impact beyond Yeovil.
This unsettling situation follows a November strike by thousands of Leonardo workers, who protested over pay before eventually securing an eight percent wage increase over two years after negotiations.
An MoD spokesperson reassured the public that they are “working flat-out” to finalize an investment plan. “The UK’s new medium helicopter programme is ongoing and no final procurement decisions have yet been made,” they said. The department added that the new defence investment plan will address the outdated and underfunded defence programmes inherited from previous administrations.
The future of Britain’s helicopter manufacturing industry — and thousands of local jobs — now depends on swift government intervention and the awarding of this crucial contract.