Troubled regional econo-mies have been given a lifeline by contracts worth £90m by the Ministry of Defence. The cross-departmental initiative will see hard-pressed communities safeguard jobs through work to supply steel, modular cabins, galley equipment and other components for the Royal Navy's new aircraft carriers, HM Queen Elizabeth and HM Prince of Wales. The South West has been awarded contracts totalling £53.4m, while Ipswich has landed a £1.3m order to supply windows. A firm in Renfrewshire has gained an order to supply doors and hatches worth £3.9m. And a £4m contract to supply aircraft electrical supplies equipment has been placed with a firm in Staffordshire. The announcements form part of the £3bn manufacture contract, which was awarded by the MoD to the Aircraft Carrier Alliance in July 2008. Work on the ships is expected to create or sustain 10,000 jobs in the UK at its peak, not only through direct supply but also with support services and manufacture to the contractors. Many of the firms involved have also taken on new apprentices, which will help boost the Government's skills programme. Geoff Searle, programme director of the Aircraft Carrier Alliance, said: ‘It is an excellent example of how this iconic project will involve companies in many parts of the UK, creating and sustaining thousands of jobs.'
