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Work is under way to transform Swindon’s Spectrum building into a major production site for unmanned aircraft systems, led by Portuguese defence firm TEKEVER.
The company announced last September that it would create the facility in West Swindon, aiming to generate hundreds of jobs and nurture local talent from Swindon’s schools and colleges.
TEKEVER has now started clearing the building and has submitted a planning application to Swindon Borough Council for a change of use which would enable it to build its multi-million pound drone manufacturing plant.
Councillor Jim Robbins, leader of Swindon Borough Council, visited the site on January 20, to meet TEKEVER’s CEO, Ricardo Mendes.
Councillor Robbins said: “It was great to welcome Ricardo and his team to Swindon and to hear that they plan to be up and running making drones later in the year.
“This is fantastic news, not just in terms of the jobs and the opportunities that will be created for young people in the Borough, but the positive impact this will have on the local supply chain.
“I’m looking forward to seeing the first drones come off the production line as we cement our reputation as the number one drone manufacturing hub in the UK.”
Secretary of State for Defence, John Healey MP visited the site when it was first announced last autumn.
Karl Brew, TEKEVER Head of Defence Unit, said at the time: “We are proud to contribute to the economic development of Swindon, a town with a strong manufacturing heritage and capability for much more.”
TEKEVER said it chose Swindon due to the town’s growing position as a centre for UK drone activity.
The new facility is its largest in the UK, and will bring hundreds of jobs to the town, with a factory and offices serving all elements of the company’s work – from rapid prototyping of new ideas to the development of new platform concepts – and manufacturing will include production of the larger AR5 drone and increasing production of its AR3 model.
These drones have been sent to Ukraine in its war with Russia.
The council’s inward investment team has been working with Swindon North MP Will Stone to establish a defence cluster in the borough.
Several other drone companies, including Flyby Technology, Munin Dynamics, and STARK, have also announced plans to create new jobs in the town.
