News : Aston Martin starts Phase II works at St Athan

Aston Martin has hosted a special ceremony to launch Phase II of the redevelopment of MoD St Athan. The site in South Wales will become the company’s second UK manufacturing plant.

The former military site was formally handed over from the Ministry of Defence to Aston Martin by Secretary of State Sir Michael Fallon at a ceremony including Aston Martin President and CEO Dr. Andy Palmer, Secretary of State for Wales, Alun Cairns and Welsh First Minister, Carwyn Jones. With the commencement of these works, Aston Martin St Athan is on target to commence production of the company’s new SUV, the Aston Martin DBX, in 2019.

In 2016, Aston Martin announced that St Athan had been chosen as the site for its second UK manufacturing plant from 20 potential global locations as part of the growth strategy under the companies Second Century Plan. The investment into St Athan is part of Aston Martin’s wider industrial expansion plans which will see 1000 new jobs created across its two manufacturing sites by 2020, with a likely further 3000 across the supply chain and local businesses in Wales.

Phase I commenced in late 2016 when Aston Martin was first given access to part of the site and began to create the customer and staff reception areas, administration and management offices and the employee restaurant.

Phase II marks the beginning of the project that will see the three super hangars redeveloped into a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility. The new plant brings employment opportunities to South Wales; a recruitment event last year attracted 3000 applications and already the first technicians are working on the DB11 at Gaydon, training for the highly-skilled roles they will take up at St Athan in 2020.

Secretary of State for Wales, Alun Cairns said: ‘As the UK exits the EU, we are determined that our country remains a great place to invest and to do business. Aston Martin’s decision to invest in Wales shows that we are creating and supporting the right conditions for industry investment.’

First Minister of Wales, Carwyn Jones added: ‘Aston Martin’s positive influence on the local community and the economy of Wales is already being felt. More than 40 Welsh workers are now employed at Aston Martin Gaydon preparing for the start of production at St Athan, and many more job opportunities will follow before 2020.’

Keith Adams

5 Comments

  1. I live a few miles away and it’s good news that a quality manufacturer will replace the MOD in the Vale. South Wales will serve Aston well in terms of talent and there’s less chance of being held to ransom every few years like we are with Ford at its Bridgend engine plant.

  2. Good news for South Wales, considering Ford could be shedding 1000 jobs at Bridgend and the recent uncertainty over the steel industry.

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