Defence group sheds 260 jobs

The Eurofighter could create more jobs at BAE

Aerospace and defence group BAE Systems is cutting 260 posts at two plants in Lancashire.

Back-office staff at sites in Warton aerodrome and Samlesbury, both near Preston, face redundancy as the group streamlines its administration and human resources teams.

BAE Systems employs 10,000 people across the business in Preston, which builds military aircraft such as Eurofighter and Nimrod.

A spokesman said the company hoped to retrain and relocate as many of the 260 employees affected by the cuts as possible.

'Remodelling business'

BAE Systems will also be recruiting 460 engineers between now and the end of the year to help win new business in the coming months.

The spokesman said: "We will be trying to retrain and relocate as many people as possible but we will be opening a voluntary redundancy programme next week.

"This is nothing to do with the slowdown, it's about remodelling the business and changing the skill mix."

Engineering jobs will be created at Preston

The spokesman said it was unlikely similar cuts would take place at BAE Systems' bases in Bristol and Brough, near Hull, which also form part of its Programmes Group.

The recruitment drive for 460 engineers reflected the group's confidence of its ability to win new business, he added.

BAE Systems hopes to secure more Eurofighter work and a key role in the US-led Joint Strike fighter programme.

"We have to have the right skills in place," the spokesman said.

Union opposition

John Quigley, national officer for the Amalgamated Engineering and Electrical Union, said he would be opposing compulsory redundancies in Preston.

He added: "We are seeking talks with BAE to explore alternatives involving retraining and redeployment."

The company announced last year it was shedding 3,800 jobs in the UK following the merger of British Aerospace and GEC's electronics arm, Marconi Electronic Systems.

It said about 750 posts would go from its sites near Preston.

BAE Systems employs about 60,000 people in the UK and 100,000 staff worldwide.