The UK government and Rolls-Royce have signed a multi-year agreement to build new aircraft engines in the country. It was announced by Chancellor John Healey on Budget day, 28 October.
Part of the agreement is a joint 10-year programme worth £2.5bn. It is to develop a new generation of cleaner and more efficient engines for single-aisle aircraft – the kind Britons fly on holiday to Europe – and for military aircraft.
According to the government, the agreement will help support 3,300 jobs by the end of 2029. In the following decades, tens of thousands of new jobs may be created: from design and research to factory production. Most are to be created outside London and the South East of England.
Rolls-Royce estimates that if a British engine goes on these aircraft, the programme could add £120bn to the economy over its lifetime.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham says the agreement gives businesses the certainty to invest. Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds calls it proof of the country’s reindustrialisation.
What it means for you
Rolls-Royce has sites and suppliers in many regions of the country. For Polish engineers, technicians, machine operators and welders, this is a signal that work in the aerospace industry will be stable for years. For small Polish businesses, it is an opportunity for orders in the supply chain: metalworking, logistics, maintenance, IT.
Our assessment
The programme is long and depends on whether aircraft manufacturers choose a British engine. What is certain is the research funding and the retention of current jobs. The “tens of thousands” of new jobs is for now a forecast over decades, not for the coming year.
What to do
- If you are looking for work in industry, check the vacancies on the Rolls-Royce careers website.
- If you run a manufacturing business, check supplier requirements and support schemes at the Department for Business and Trade.
Source: GOV.UK – Government and Rolls-Royce agree £2.5bn to build jet engines in the UK (28 October 2026).
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