GE Aerospace is investing £30m to expand and modernise its Prestwick facility in Scotland, with the project expected to create around 150 jobs over the next five years.
The investment will increase capacity and improve operational efficiency at the site, which supports the company’s commercial engine maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) network. The expansion includes a new 55,000 sq ft building designed to improve site layout, logistics and operational flow. Full operations are targeted to begin in the first quarter of 2028.
The project forms part of a planned £57m investment package, combining GE Aerospace’s £30m commitment with £27m in support from the Ayrshire Growth Deal and a planned £6m investment from Scottish Enterprise. The funding will support site development, enabling works and facility fit-out.
The investment follows more than two years of analysis and planning, undertaken in collaboration with the Ayrshire Growth Deal and regional stakeholders.
Andy Prow, site leader at GE Aerospace in Prestwick, said the investment would strengthen the facility’s ability to meet future customer demand while supporting recruitment and workforce training.
Supporting Scotland’s aerospace industry
The expansion is expected to reinforce Prestwick’s position within the UK aerospace sector and support the region’s advanced manufacturing and engineering capabilities.
GE Aerospace plans to recruit around 150 workers over the next five years. The company currently employs approximately 4,100 people across its UK operations and said it invested more than £7m in manufacturing and £19m in MRO in the UK during 2026.
The project is supported by public funding through the Ayrshire Growth Deal, which aims to strengthen the regional economy and attract investment into high-value industries. The UK Government said its contribution to the deal would help unlock private investment, support skilled employment and strengthen the Prestwick Aerospace Cluster.
Scotland’s Deputy First Minister, Jenny Gilruth, said the expansion would create new employment opportunities while building on the country’s engineering and advanced manufacturing strengths.
Investment in aerospace skills
Alongside the facility expansion, GE Aerospace has announced a £75,000 donation to Ayrshire College to support the development of local aerospace skills.
The funding will provide new training equipment for students and apprentices, as well as support a course designed to prepare participants for careers across the wider aerospace industry. The initiative is expected to benefit around 150 apprentices and full-time students, helping develop the skills needed to support the sector’s future workforce requirements.
The investment comes as aerospace and other high-technology industries seek to address skills shortages and secure the supply of qualified engineers and technicians.
By combining additional operational capacity with investment in training, GE Aerospace aims to strengthen Prestwick’s long-term role in its global operations and support the continued development of Scotland’s aerospace supply chain.
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