Cable kicks off work on high-technology factory

Mr Cable took part in a “ground breaking ceremony” at the site in Rotherham, which will eventually become known as the Rolls-Royce Advanced Blade Casting Facility.

Work on the 14,000 sq m (150,000 sq ft) factory will start “imminently” according to the company which will use components made on the site in its jet engines.

It will form the latest development on the South Yorkshire Advanced Manufacturing Park at Catcliffe, between Rotherham and Sheffield.

Mr Cable said: “Today is further evidence of Rolls-Royce’s strong commitment to the UK and the strength of advanced manufacturing we have in this country.

“This new facility is good news not just for Rolls-Royce and the local area but for our aerospace sector and the wider economy too. It provides a good example of business and Government working together to deliver growth.”

Rolls-Royce executive vice president Mike Mosley joined Mr Cable to officially start the project and examine a blade like those to be manufactured.

He said: “Rolls-Royce invests in world class technology and infrastructure to expand the scale and efficiency of our operations and to deliver our promises to our customers. In the last five years we have invested over £950m on infrastructure in the UK alone.

“The Advanced Blade Casting Facility will use cutting edge manufacturing techniques to produce single crystal turbine blades, which play a critical role in jet engines and must withstand incredibly harsh conditions.”