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| £28m investment at Airbus factory | £28m investment at Airbus factory |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Plane-maker Airbus has been awarded a £28m grant from the assembly government to ensure the future of hi-tech wing production in Flintshire. | Plane-maker Airbus has been awarded a £28m grant from the assembly government to ensure the future of hi-tech wing production in Flintshire. |
| The money will be ploughed into the Broughton plant, creating a new centre to develop composite wing production. | The money will be ploughed into the Broughton plant, creating a new centre to develop composite wing production. |
| Brian Fleet, of Airbus, said it allowed the company to look beyond the "acute challenges of the economic downturn". | Brian Fleet, of Airbus, said it allowed the company to look beyond the "acute challenges of the economic downturn". |
| First Minister Rhodri Morgan said the funding would guarantee Airbus' future in Wales for years "if not decades". | First Minister Rhodri Morgan said the funding would guarantee Airbus' future in Wales for years "if not decades". |
| Mr Morgan added: "We can all celebrate a major investment guaranteeing Airbus' partnership with Wales for years, if not decades to come. | Mr Morgan added: "We can all celebrate a major investment guaranteeing Airbus' partnership with Wales for years, if not decades to come. |
| This investment helps us to look beyond the acute challenges that currently face us Brian Fleet, Airbus | This investment helps us to look beyond the acute challenges that currently face us Brian Fleet, Airbus |
| "We also celebrate the fact Wales and the United Kingdom will now be moving into the mainstream in composites manufacturing - not just playing at composites, but moving to the top end of high-tech composite manufacturing technology. | "We also celebrate the fact Wales and the United Kingdom will now be moving into the mainstream in composites manufacturing - not just playing at composites, but moving to the top end of high-tech composite manufacturing technology. |
| "Airbus is an integral part of the Welsh economy. It is an invaluable asset to us. | "Airbus is an integral part of the Welsh economy. It is an invaluable asset to us. |
| "This investment - and the move into composites - reinforces and enhances our reputation still further as a country with high skills and high value products." | "This investment - and the move into composites - reinforces and enhances our reputation still further as a country with high skills and high value products." |
| Brian Fleet, of Airbus UK, said: "We welcome the Welsh Assembly Government's vital forward-looking investments in composites. | Brian Fleet, of Airbus UK, said: "We welcome the Welsh Assembly Government's vital forward-looking investments in composites. |
| "This investment helps us to look beyond the acute challenges that currently face us as a result of the global economic downturn and allow us to take a long view into the future." | "This investment helps us to look beyond the acute challenges that currently face us as a result of the global economic downturn and allow us to take a long view into the future." |
| The announcement comes just three months after Airbus announced it was looking to cut 250 agency jobs at the Broughton site, which employs more than 6,000 people. | The announcement comes just three months after Airbus announced it was looking to cut 250 agency jobs at the Broughton site, which employs more than 6,000 people. |
| Airbus said it was looking at reducing staff in "a review of its business and manpower requirements." | Airbus said it was looking at reducing staff in "a review of its business and manpower requirements." |
| At the time, the Welsh Assembly Government said while "disappointing" it was "encouraging" the company was looking to avoid compulsory redundancies. | At the time, the Welsh Assembly Government said while "disappointing" it was "encouraging" the company was looking to avoid compulsory redundancies. |
| Unions were told the redundancies result from a downturn in orders, particularly for the Hawker business jet. | Unions were told the redundancies result from a downturn in orders, particularly for the Hawker business jet. |
| The new funding package announced on Friday aims to develop composite wing technology which will be used in the next generation of aircraft. | The new funding package announced on Friday aims to develop composite wing technology which will be used in the next generation of aircraft. |
| It will create an "environmentally-friendly" facility for the assembly of wings at Broughton. | It will create an "environmentally-friendly" facility for the assembly of wings at Broughton. |
| The assembly government also said the funding would "build future skill sets and strengthen the role of Wales as a centre of high-technology industries". | The assembly government also said the funding would "build future skill sets and strengthen the role of Wales as a centre of high-technology industries". |
| Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones said: "This is not merely a matter of developing skills and safeguarding the employment of skilled people, vital though that is. | Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones said: "This is not merely a matter of developing skills and safeguarding the employment of skilled people, vital though that is. |
| "It is a matter of introducing new technology that will put Wales and the UK at the forefront of carbon fibre composites technology." | "It is a matter of introducing new technology that will put Wales and the UK at the forefront of carbon fibre composites technology." |