Cosford Expansion Hopes
Jobs boost mooted for RAF Cosford Dec 27 2004
RAF Cosford is being pushed as a contender to become the base for the UK's military defence training - bringing 700 civilian jobs to the area.
The Ministry of Defence is carrying out a Defence Training Review that will lead to £21 billion of training provision being outsourced to the private sector by 2008.
Three bids have been received from consortia vying for the contract. The Defence College of Aeronautical Engineering at RAF Cosford has been identified as one of the potential sites and regional development agency Advantage West Midlands, along with a partnership of local authorities, the Wolverhampton Telford Technology Corridor and other partners, are working to ensure the Bridgnorth site is promoted successfully.
Alongside the civilian jobs boost, the successful site would benefit from a range of spin-offs from the training, research and defence facilities.
AWM chief executive, John Edwards, said: "The timing of the decision is still unclear - what we need to do is put the pressure on and make it perfectly clear to the MoD and the consortia that RAF Cosford is the best place in the country to base the facility."
"Competition is sure to be fierce which is why it is absolutely imperative we get as much support as possible for this.
"Cosford has the links, existing facilities, location and infrastructure to fit the bill, as well as the capacity for expansion, but we must present the case to the consortia."
Wolverhampton Telford Technology Corridor director Mike Norris said: "I'm confident that if we all get behind Cosford and promote the strengths, networks and benefits that the region has."