AEROSPACE giant Aircelle – Burnley’s largest private employer – is set to become a ‘centre of excellence’ for the UK as part of a £12.3million project backed by Business Secretary Vince Cable.

Bosses at the Bancroft Road plant have been selected by the government because of its leading role at the heart of the supply chain village being established across the Heasandford site.

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An award of around £4.6million has been made to Aircelle alone as it works with Composites Integration and the University of Nottingham as part of a wider initiative to establish a ‘centre of excellence’ for nacelles, the specialist engine housings within aircraft.

It is expected that the Department for Business Innovation and Skills funding will not only create up to 26 jobs but secure a further 449 at the Burnley operation, part of the Toulouse-based Safran Group.

Mr Cable said: “While there is much to celebrate about British manufacturing, it is clear that our supplier base has been eroded over the last 30 years.

“The benefits of stronger manufacturing supply chains will be felt across the whole economy – new cutting-edge technologies, a more highly skilled work force and improved productivity will boost growth and jobs across the country.”

Burnley MP Gordon Birtwistle said: “Major manufacturers are allowed to bid into this fund to help them with their supply chain requirements so this should really benefit Aircelle.

“This is more good news for Burnley and will place the town at the heart of the nacelles industry and at the leading edge of composites technology.”

Aircelle has been central to the supply chain logistic village, known as Innovation Drive, which is well underway on part of the former Michelin site, triggered by £1.4million of Regional Growth Fund money in late 2012.

Kaman Tooling relocated much of its operation to Burnley from Darwen and BCW Engineering moved to Heasandford as it secured contracts with Aston Martin and Lotus and expanded.

Headed by Prof Andrew Long, the Polymer Composites Group at Nottingham University is working at the cutting-edge of composite textile manufacturing and design.

The team, ahead of its Aircelle partnership, already works with engineers from some of the country’s other leading aerospace and transportation companies including Airbus UK, Bombardier, Aston Martin and Rolls Royce.

The successful Burnley package was one of 20 nationwide, totalling £67million.