General Dynamics Holds Merthyr Tydfil Contractors’ Fair

An opportunity for local companies in a wide range of sectors is being offered by defence firm General Dynamics Land Systems-UK, which requires facilities and services contractors at its new Merthyr Tydfil plant over the next nine years. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The business, which is currently transforming a disused forklift truck factory into a specialist engineering hub for the British Army’s next generation of armoured vehicles, is looking to employ suppliers of services including waste management, cleaning and catering/hospitality for up to 400 people. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

To gauge interest, General Dynamics Land Systems-UK is holding a site services contractors’ fair at Merthyr Tydfil’s Orbit Business Centre on 5 April, where it will outline details of the opportunities available. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Potential contracts will be awarded for ground maintenance across the 50-acre site, security, pest control and cleaning the offices, canteen, toilets, guard house and shop floor. Service and maintenance contracts will also be available for the factory’s extensive range of equipment, along with inspection and testing of all its systems. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The company – which already employs 550 at its facilities in Oakdale, Caerphilly – will take on 250 people at the new plant, assembling and testing the new fleet of the army’s first fully digitised Ajax armoured vehicles for the Ministry of Defence. Work is set to begin next year, with the first vehicle expected to be completed in 2018. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The event at the Orbit Centre inRhydycar Business Parkstarts at 10am and will comprise a presentation by General Dynamics Land Systems-UK, along with a display of information and the opportunity to ask questions and find out how to bid for the contracts. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The contracts I’m looking to fill are all for the duration of the factory’s life, so they’ll run until 2025,” said General Dynamics Land Systems-UK Facilities Manager, Nick Hunter. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The presentation will be about the potential opportunities and followed by the chance to chat to one of our team to learn more and book a site visit to work up a more detailed quote.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Orbit Centre Manager Lance Whiteley said: “The contractors fair will be a unique opportunity for the business community to gain information about this exciting development in Merthyr Tydfil.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

To register your attendance at the meeting and receive further information, please email events@generaldynamics.uk.com ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​