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The site of one of Kent’s largest employers is undergoing a huge overhaul as part of a £220 million cash injection set to bring in hundreds of new jobs.
Aerospace and defence giant BAE Systems is transforming its Rochester base in what is one of the largest investments the firm has made in its 25-year history.
Part of the funds will go towards a new state-of-the-art factory in Marconi Way to allow the technology giant to continue to expand and meet growing demand.
It will replace outdated buildings, some of which date back to the 1960s.
Diggers are already on site demolishing previous Elliot Brother constructs to make way for a new 36,000-square-metre facility which will have a combination of manufacturing, engineering, and office space inside.
Construction on the new factory is expected to start in the new year.
The old building compared to what the new factory is expected to look like
Once complete it will add another 300 new employees to the existing 1,600-strong workforce with eventual plans to bring this number to around 2,000.
These highly-skilled workers will be recruited over the next five years.
It’s the latest in a continued wave of employee expansion since 2020 with 200 jobs already recently created.
And seven in 10 of the staff at Rochester live within a 10-mile radius of the site.
BAE staff specialise in advanced technology for civil and military aircraft.
Some of its customers include Boeing, Airbus and NATO which uses kit from Rochester for its Typhoon Eurofighter jets.
Some of the leading innovations are head-up displays, helmet-mounted displays, flight control computers, and active control sticks.
Other refurbishments are also taking place across the base which include improvements to utilities, car parking and office spaces.
Dave Banks, Rochester business centre director, told KentOnline the “significant” investment will help attract more highly skilled workers to the area.
He said: “We’re just really delighted the company is seeing confidence in the future of the business here.
“We are delighted to be working with the local council on bringing such a significant investment to Medway.”
MP for Rochester and Strood, Lauren Edwards, met Mr Banks at the site earlier this month.
She said: “I was pleased to be able to visit BAE Systems to hear for myself the exciting plans they have to invest in Medway and bring more high-quality skilled jobs to the local area.
“BAE Systems are an important local employer, providing high skilled employment, with a majority of the workforce living within 10 miles of the Rochester site.
“With an increasingly unstable international situation, it is more important than ever that we ensure that the UK has strong defence capabilities. BAE Systems in Rochester is well placed to deliver more well-paid skilled employment for current and future generations of Medway residents.”
Medway Council leader Cllr Vince Maple (Lab) also welcomed the “fantastic” news.
He said: “As our largest private sector employee, this is a strong vote of confidence in Medway being a great place for businesses to invest and grow from BAE.
“As well as boosting the local economy, this investment will provide even more skilled employment opportunities for local people.
“It will help develop young talent and encourage others to base their businesses here.”
BAE Systems’ investment in Rochester follows major developments across the country.
It has already put £300 million into a new ship build hall in Glasgow and £230 million of funding in the UK munitions business to meet increasing demand.
It has a global workforce of around 100,000 people in more than 40 countries.
