Advanced engineering firm, Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC), has expanded its presence in the UK by establishing a new Centre of Excellence in the Vale of Glamorgan, a county borough east of Cardiff. The facility will lead to the creation of 75 jobs and support a further 200 indirect jobs. 

They also opened the new Welsh Engineering headquarters of SNC’s UK subsidiary Sierra Nevada Corporation Mission Systems UK Ltd (SNC MS UK) at Bro Tathan. 

The company has taken on a long-term lease on an aircraft hangar and has invested in upgrading its infrastructure with the aim of creating a “Mission Systems Centre of Excellence”.

The headquarters was opened by Economy Minister Vaughan Gething as part of the Welsh Government’s continued support of the company’s expansion.

Mr Gething said: “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 have committed to employing service veterans, which allows them to utilise their considerable knowledge, skills and networks.”

SNC MS joins a growing list of companies based at Bro Tathan with more than 1,000 people now employed at the Welsh Government-owned airfield.

SNC MS UK employs experts in science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) in an effort to create the development of new services to critical defence and security problems. The company also partners with local universities to support academic research in the most current technological fields.

Hywel Baker, managing director of Sierra Nevada Corporation Mission Systems UK, said: “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.”

He added: “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.”