EADS’ Multi-million Boost to Welsh Economy
Newport West MP Paul Flynn has praised the success of local firm EADS Defence & Security Systems in securing over 100 high quality jobs based in Newport.
Newport West MP Paul Flynn has praised the success of local firm EADS Defence & Security Systems in securing over 100 high quality jobs based in Newport.
The £2.3 billion Defence Information Infrastructure (DII) contract awarded to the ATLAS Consortium will initially provide a £150 million boost to the Welsh Economy over a ten year period.
EADS is responsible for providing the network and communications systems for an ambitious government plan to replace the existing Ministry of Defence IT systems, of which there are currently over 200, with a single system. It is intended to enable better communication between 340,000 military personnel and civil service staff and will connect and support 150,000 desktop PCs, laptops and other devices.
This makes the DII project one of the most challenging, demanding and exciting IT infrastructure projects ever undertaken anywhere in the world. EADS will be working with ATLAS consortium, comprising EDS as lead contractor, tier 1 partner Fujitsu Services and key sub-contractors, EADS Defence and Security Systems, General Dynamics, and Logica CMG to deliver the contract over the next ten years.
Opening Glyndwr House, the new offices of the firm’s successful DII team, which is located in his constituency, Mr Flynn said, “EADS is a vital new feature of the personality of 21st century Newport. Its work is unique, as modern as tomorrow and ties our city’s prosperity in with Europe’s prime Information Technology giant. The prospects are exciting and limitless. Appropriately, Newport’s future is being built here at Glyndwr House drawing on the strength of our heroic heritage.”
Thanking Mr Flynn for taking the time to recognise their achievement, DII Director Mike Simms said “The award of the contract was the culmination of two years of hard work for EADS and our partners in ATLAS. The jobs that this success has secured are highly skilled, graduate positions.
I am delighted that we have secured these roles based in Newport, providing quality employment for the high calibre graduates that Wales offers. Not only are we helping Wales to retain its best and brightest, but we are attracting highly skilled workers to Wales.”
Andrew Davies, Minister for Economic Development and Transport, said, “This is excellent news. The Welsh Assembly Government provided extensive support for the DII bid, with all of the consortium members receiving support from Team Wales, including advice from the WDA and financial support through our regional selective assistance programme.” he said.
'Major companies, like EADS, are magnets for spin-off enterprises, and this announcement will further augment our position as the location of choice for high quality jobs and investment from the rapidly growing defence, aerospace and high technology sectors.”