Business minister Michael Fallon (right) visits Aeromet in Rochester

by Rebecca Hughes

A dozen jobs will be created at an aerospace firm in Rochester thanks to a government grant of more than £1million.

Business minister Michael Fallon today visited Aeromet, in Laker Road, to announce the grant.

The company, which produces aluminium castings for the aerospace industry, has been given the money from the government's Regional Growth Fund (RGF) to pay for a research and development project to build its patented aluminium alloy A20X.

The investment is expected to create up to 38 jobs across its three sites in Rochester, Sittingbourne and Worcester – with a third of these in Medway.

Speaking at Aeromet and seeing where the aluminium castings are made, Mr Fallon said: "Today's announcement is great news for Aeromet in what could be a game changer for the industry.

"For me this project underlines the importance of supporting advanced manufacturing and innovation through the Regional Growth Fund – it creates jobs and acts as an important lever for bringing in skills and expertise.

"I'm proud that a small Kent company is part of a great success story.

"Next time you fly you can be very proud that this company is supplying so many parts of the next generation of air buses."

Alan Dustan, Aeromet's commercial director, added: "Without the RGF Funding the project would either have been delayed for a number of years or not proceeded at all. However, with the funding we can continue the research, support the three Aeromet sites and their supply chains as well as creating over 30 new positions."

Aeroment, which specialises in the production of components for the aerospace industry, supplies companies including Airbus, Boeing and BAE Systems.

It employs 245 staff across its three sites, with roughly 80 employees working in Rochester.