New owners of Hucknall Rolls-Royce site say jobs will be saved

The curtain has come down on more than 80 years of Rolls-Royce’s presence in the town after the site was sold to ITP Aero.

The sale has led to huge concern over the future of the site and the workers there.

But statement released this week ITP Aero said it had no intention of cutting any of the workforce at Hucknall

It said: “ITP Aero is retaining all Hucknall employees as well as the strong management team, led by Ian Williamson.

“In addition, as part of ITP Aero, Hucknall will be able to compete for business from other engine makers in the industry and target new growth and investment opportunities."

Fears have been hanging over the site ever since Rolls Royce announced plans last year to potentially dispose of ITP Aero from its portfolio after selling the Hucknall site to it.

This could potentially leave the Hucknall site open to being sold on again, offering no guarantees for its future or those of the workers.

Warren East, Rolls-Royce’s chief executive, also admitted in a BBC interview that two-thirds of the company’s jobs in the UK could be cut.

A Facebook campaign page has subsequently been set up calling for Rolls-Royce and ITP Aero to guarantee jobs in Hucknall.

And this week, ITP Aero appeared to offer some assurances, saying that, regardless of any future decisions by Rolls Royce, it would retain a long-term relationship with the business across its civil aerospace and defence programmes.

Carlos Alzola, ITP Aero chief executive, said: “We are looking forward to working together with our new colleagues in Hucknall, focusing on maximising opportunities and recovering together from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.”

Under the new deal, ITP Aero gains full ownership of the Hucknall facilities.

In addition, the commodity of complex fabrications, including design engineering and supply chain management will be transferred into ITP Aero.

The products manufactured in Hucknall, which include fabrications, combustors and fan outlet guide vanes, are complementary to those manufactured in other ITP Aero facilities and will add to the company’s product portfolio.

ITP Aero said: “The integration of Hucknall into ITP Aero adds approximately 700 employees to the company’s global workforce, amounting to 4,300 worldwide.

"Hucknall’s current strong management team will continue to lead the organisation and its highly skilled workforce, ensuring a smooth transition as the site’s operations fully integrate into the ITP Aero operating model.

"“As a result, the UK will become the second biggest country in terms of workforce and industrial footprint for ITP Aero, with three centres (Hucknall, Whetstone and Lincoln) and approximately 900 employees in total.”

The Hucknall site is particularly renowned for its contributions to the aviation industry.

During WWII, it was the location of the first flight of the Merlin Engine-powered P-51 Mustang and the setting for the development of vertical take-off jets, first tested in 1954.

And the company says it wants this groundbreaking work at Hucknall to continue.

It said: “ITP Aero is committed to upholding Hucknall’s important aeronautical legacy and continuing to support its role in the next generation of aviation, specifically working towards a more sustainable aviation sector through programmes such as Rolls-Royce’s Ultrafan.”