AN £11 MILLION investment at GKN Aerospace, the Isle of Wight's largest private employer, was praised by MP Bob Seely during a visit to the East Cowes factory.

The investment will form part of a five-year plan to modernise GKN's Island operation, aimed at improving the efficiency of manufacturing processes and enhancing the site’s position as a 'centre of excellence' for advanced composite structures.

Garry Hernes, general manager at the site, said: “We were delighted to welcome Bob to our facility in East Cowes to discuss our world leading products and plans to secure the site’s long-term future, so GKN Aerospace will continue to underpin the Island’s economy and employment for years to come.

“The East Cowes site has been a fixture on the Isle of Wight for a century and owned by GKN Aerospace for the past 25 years.

"The new £11m investment we announced earlier this year, alongside additional capital investment over the next five years, is to ensure the site is fit for the future and keeps the Isle of Wight at the forefront of advanced aerospace systems.”

GKN Aerospace is a world-leading multi-technology aerospace supplier and also the Island’s largest private employer — with 97 per cent of its 1,000-strong workforce based on the Island.

Mr Seely said: “Truly global companies like GKN help the Island raise its international profile.

“I am delighted to see the company is not only committed to the Island, but also investing so heavily to modernise the East Cowes site and keep it at the forefront of its business.”

The MP said he intended to hold a meeting with newly appointed minister Nadhim Zahawi at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, to discuss future government plans for GKN Aerospace and hoped to visit the factory with the minister soon.