District Council Leader Says Region Will See Economic Benefit From The Work

Contracts worth over $1.2 billion awarded to AgustaWestland recently will benefit the region around the company's Yovil, U.K. facility, according to the District Council Leader in the region.

Ric Pallister is the head of the South Somerset District Council. He told the Western Gazette newspaper that two contracts awarded by the U.K. Ministry of Defense for work on AW101 Merlin (pictured) and Apache AH Mark 1 helicopters will be an economic boon to the region. The recently-announced contracts will help preserve about 1,000 jobs in the area.

Pallister said that means employment security for people working not only for AgustaWestland, but for other firms in the supply chain ... from accountants to local engineering companies. He said such long-term work means people might have the "confidence to take out a first mortgage, confidence to move house, confidence to build that extension, confidence to expand a business, or the ability to just take a much-needed holiday."

Pallister said unemployment in the region continues to be about half the national (U.K.) average, and that news of the new contracts will "undoubtedly help secure existing jobs and create new jobs and opportunities in the future."

FMI: www.southsomerset.gov.uk