The UK’s biggest advanced engineering company, BAE SYSTEMS, has announced potential local job losses following the cancellation of the UK Nimrod MRA4 and Harrier contracts. These include 668 at Warton and 119 at Samlesbury. In addition jobs will be lost in Manchester including closure of the Woodford site. A statement has also been issued related the Saudi Arabian contract that potentially effect another 90 Samlesbury jobs, making the total 208 at that site. Although the statement is slightly ambiguous about whether these 90 are in the 119 but it appears not.
BAE SYSTEMS has 35,000 UK employees of which 11,000 work at Warton and Samlesbury. The portfolio of major programmes locally now includes the Typhoon, Tornado, Hawk, F35 plus Harriers in service overseas. Future unmanned aircraft are in development and collaboration with France has been proposed.
The job reduction is about 8% locally so not insignificant but whether that many actually leave can depend on many factors such as new work and other consolidation and initiatives. In addition local suppliers and out-sourcing companies may be effected. Several million pounds will be taken from the regions economy, not good news for anyone at this time.