One of the county’s biggest employers has announced plans to increase its workforce by 500 people.

Defence, aerospace and security giant BAE Systems plans to recruit for its Rochester base over the next five years.

The company plans on bringing in more than 200 new people by the end of this year alone.

This will be made up of 50 entry-level roles in fiance, commercial, software and technical-based jobs.

Added to these will be 170 experienced professionals including hardware engineers, production and test technicians, project managers, quality assurance engineers and a variety of manufacturing positions.

Currently BAE Systems employs 1,500 people at the site.

The firm has a long history in Kent with its predecessors having sites in Rochester and on Sheppey.

Short Brothers began making aircraft in 1909 and produced more than 500 Stirling bombers during the Second World War.

More recently BAE has developed a number of “world firsts” in Rochester including systems for Concord, F-35 and Gulfsteam G500 and G60 aircrafts.

It has also launched the Dreadnought programme which has brought back maritime warfare work to Medway for the first time since Chatham dockyard closed.

BAE produces advanced defence technology at its sites in the South East, from satellites to electronic systems and cyber capabilities.

New research has emphasised its contribution to the South East economy.

It total, the company has 8,200 full-time employees and supports a total of 26,500 jobs throughout its supply chain and local communities in the region.

The report from Oxford Economics stated the company contributed £11 billion to the national economy.

Chief executive Charles Woodburn said: “We recognise our responsibility to help deliver economic prosperity as well as national security.

“Our continued investment in skills, technology and the communities where we live and work supports thousands of jobs and is creating opportunities for people to play an important role in helping to keep our country and our allies safe.”

This comes as the Ministry of Defence announced an additional £5 billion to defence spending over the next two years.