Lockheed Martin sets the pace for weapons-grade energy savings

Tucked away just to the north of the small Bedfordshire town from which it takes its name, the Ampthill site of Lockheed Martin UK is one of 21 locations across the UK owned by the US multinational. It currently employs some 922 people in the design, development and production of various high-technology systems in areas such as aerospace and defence.

Graham Harraway, operations director at Ampthill, explained that the 64-acre site is the only one in the UK that is wholly owned by the company and, since it was acquired a little over a decade ago, has had about £23m invested in it. He said that the site covers vehicle systems; mission support; and special projects. It is currently working on substantial projects for the turrets of the Scout SV and Warrior armoured vehicles used by the British Army.

At present, surprisingly few of those on site, only about 120, are involved in direct manufacturing or related support activities. Harraway explained that given that the current focus is on development work for the Scout and Warrior turrets there are some 449 engineering personnel in those initiatives. Those numbers will, though, rebalance as the two contracts transition through to manufacturing – a flexibility aided by the fact that around a fifth of the development personnel involved are contractors rather than permanent employees.