Boeing to create 2,000 new jobs in Britain

David Cameron said Boeing had confirmed it would create 2,000 new jobs in Britain and increase its research and development spending.

Cameron’s office said in a statement:

“Boeing and the Government intend to work together to build a new 100-million-pound P-8A operational support and training base at RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland, creating more than 100 new jobs.”

According to Reuters, the statement also said Boeing had confirmed it would create 2,000 new jobs in Britain as well as increase its research and development spending.

Boeing also says that as part of winning the £2 Billion UK Apache upgrade contract, it will create jobs in the UK.

Thew company is reportedly in line to take over control of Apache helicopter production from Yeovil-based Leonardo-Finmeccanica, formerly AgustaWestland, in a deal due to be announced in July at the Farnborough Air Show.

The Apache was originally a Boeing design, and was built under licence in Yeovil for the British Army from 1999-2004.

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon has been challenged on defence spending plans which unions claim could cost 600 Yeovil jobs.

A spokesman said:

“Any future UK contracts would be supported here in the UK with a significant, positive impact on the British economy and employment. Boeing has doubled its UK workforce and spending with the UK supply chain in the last five years to more than 2,000 employees and almost £2 billion a year respectively, supporting 12,700 jobs in the tier one supply chain in the UK. This growth continues in 2016 and beyond.”

The company has several sites in the UK, and works with the Apache operation at Yeovil already.

“Separately, the statement announced a further 365 million pounds’ worth of aerospace research and development, to be jointly funded by industry and the government.”