Rolls-Royce has escalated its lobbying efforts with the UK government, warning that failure to support its entry into the narrow-body jet engine market could result in the relocation of up to 40,000 jobs abroad.
Chief executive Tufan Erginbilgic stated that discussions with ministers are progressing but emphasized the urgency of a final decision to secure the company’s long-term industrial strategy.
6 trillion, making it a critical growth vector for Rolls-Royce beyond its traditional wide-body dominance.
The push targets Labour leader Andy Burnham, who is currently shaping the party’s economic and industrial policy platform.
Erginbilgic’s intervention highlights the stakes for the UK’s advanced manufacturing sector, positioning the narrow-body engine project as a pivotal opportunity to maintain global competitiveness in aerospace propulsion.
The narrow-body segment represents a significant portion of the global commercial aviation market, estimated at £1.6 trillion, making it a critical growth vector for Rolls-Royce beyond its traditional wide-body dominance.
This appeal comes as Burnham prepares to approve new oil and gas drilling licenses in the North Sea, signaling a broader policy overhaul that balances energy security with industrial strategy.