SIERRA Nevada Corporation Mission Systems UK LTD (SNC MS UK), a subsidiary of Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) and a prominent American advanced engineering firm, is expanding its operations in Wales. The company has confirmed the establishment of a new Centre of Excellence in the Vale of Glamorgan, which is expected to create 75 new jobs and support an additional 200 indirect jobs. Economy Minister Vaughan Gething announced this development during the official opening of SNC MS UK’s new Welsh Engineering HQ at Bro Tathan in the Vale of Glamorgan.
SNC is renowned for its expertise in advanced engineering technologies, tackling complex challenges in space systems, commercial solutions, and national security. Recognizing the potential, the Welsh Government has actively supported the company’s decision to establish a significant presence in Wales. SNC MS UK has entered into a long-term lease agreement for an aircraft hangar at Bro Tathan, where it will establish a “Mission Systems Centre of Excellence.” The company has made substantial investments to upgrade the infrastructure of the hangar, and it currently employs 46 people at the site.
Minister Vaughan Gething expressed his satisfaction with the company’s decision, stating, “The Welsh Government is working to develop the industries of the future here in Wales, which will create good, well-paid new jobs for people across the country. I’m delighted the Welsh Government has been able to attract one of the USA’s fastest-growing companies to Wales. As a blue-chip company in future technology, Sierra Nevada Mission Systems UK will create new high-tech, well-paid jobs at Bro Tathan, which will be a major boost to the local economy in the Vale of Glamorgan. I’m particularly pleased the company has committed to employing service veterans, which allows them to utilise their considerable knowledge, skills, and networks.”
SNC MS UK joins a growing roster of companies based at Bro Tathan, with over 1,000 people now employed at the Welsh Government-owned airfield. The company hires experts in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) to develop innovative solutions for critical defence and security challenges. Furthermore, SNC MS UK collaborates with local universities to support academic research in cutting-edge technological fields.
Hywel Baker, Managing Director of Sierra Nevada Corporation Mission Systems UK, expressed enthusiasm about the new Centre of Excellence, stating, “We are excited to offer our customers increased performance and access to previously unavailable capabilities with our new Centre of Excellence. SNC MS UK is dedicated to shaping the sector’s future and driving its growth. We are committed to creating highly skilled jobs and providing employees with training and leadership through a parent organisation with a proven heritage and continued success in this industry. We are thrilled to invest in this site and to regenerate existing infrastructure to create a modern and fully capable environment that delivers best-of-breed technology. In addition to bringing state-of-the-art capabilities, this renovation enables the revitalisation of the St Athan area to attract other businesses that will multiply economic impact and indirect job creation, encourage continued innovation, and help deepen the skills base of our local population.”
With the establishment of the new Centre of Excellence, SNC MS UK is poised to contribute significantly to the local economy and foster technological advancements in Wales.
