Pendle councillors are calling for action to protect skills and develop future advanced engineering businesses in east Lancashire, saying a Rolls Royce site at Barnoldswick is being ‘downsized’ but the global aerospace sector is growing and diversifying.

Political parties from all sides backed a call at the latest full Pendle Council meeting for talks on the Rolls Royce Bankfield site in Barnoldswick. Rolls Royce has two locations in Barnoldswick with another, Ghyll Brow, on Skipton Road. Jet engines have been a key area of work over the years.

Across Lancashire, there are a number of aerospace firms and locations, including at Samlesbury, near the Ribble Valley, South Ribble and Preston. Samlesbury has special enterprise zone status, which is being renewed, and is the focus of planned future advanced manufacturing.

At Pendle Council’s latest full meeting, a motion from Lib-Dem councillors Mick Strickland and David Hartley called for new business support in east Lancashire including for green technologies.

Coun Strickland said: “The council notes the strength of advanced engineering skills in Pendle and its strong contribution to the economy. The bedrock of aero-engineering is Rolls Royce’s Bankfield site which is being downsized through demolition and consolidation.

“We believe the skills of our area should be harnessed for a fresh industrial revolution in new, renewable energy technologies to complement the existing engineering base. We want the council to convene a meeting of interested parties to pursue this aim and request our new MP, Jonathan Hinder, to support this.

Coun Hartley said: “Rolls Royce has been a mainstay employer in Barnoldswick. Many of our relatives and friends have spent their entire working lives at the Bankfield site. But the site has not always been a Rolls Royce site. It started life as a weaving mill before being taken over by Rover, which developed the Whittles gas turbine engine. In 1943 Rolls Royce took over the site after repeated bombings by the Luftwaffe in Solihull. The site grew and developed many engines including the RB211 which powers many commercial jets today. ‘RB’ means Rolls Barnoldswick.”

Coun Hartley added: “When I left school, the premier apprenticeship to get was a Rolls Royce apprenticeship. When I left school in 1983, Rolls Royce took on 40 new apprentices that year. Once you gained your apprenticeship, it was like having a golden ticket to Willie Wonka’s chocolate factory. It opened doors to every engineering firm across the country. Our engineers were head-hunted by every top company. In the 1950s, Rolls Royce employed over 3,000 people at its Barnoldswick sites. Today’s figure is much lower.

“Many people who have taken early redundancy started their own businesses, which feed the Barnoldswick site and surrounding aero-engineering firms. Examples include IPCO, set up by Ian Weatherhill and Simon Sharp. In 1991, IPCO became Hope Technology, which manufactures mechanical disk breaks and cantilever breaks.

“Hope Technology now has a site on Calf Hall Lane, Barnoldswick, employing over 160 people. A cycle designed by Hope and Lotus, inspired by jets, appeared on the gold medal rostrum at this year’s Paris Olympics. Yet another nod to our industrious past.

“We, as a council, need to encourage outside groups to become part of the future, investing in green technology to give future generations their ‘golden tickets’. The aerospace sector is ever-growing. Today’s global market stands at $328billion (Dollars) and is expected to grow by seven per cent to $430billion (Dollars) by 2025. Top companies such as Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, Boeing and Airbus are branching-out for the future. There are developments in artificial intelligence, electronic propulsion, autonomous flight systems and lighter and stronger materials. Currently, there are over 200 electric-propelled aircraft under development.

“Why can’t the Bankfield site at Barnoldswick become a Mecca of industry again? Elsewhere at Newbury in Oxfordshire, it is being done with small engineering groups working with Williams, Ferrari and Red Bull. It is dubbed the New Technology Valley with firms moving out of cities to join them.

“We need someone in power to help fly the flag. We need our new MP, Jonathan Hinder, to be part of this process. Let’s lead the way by inviting new and exciting green technologies to work with established firms. The site is already there. It just needs a new influx of creativity.”

Lib-Dem Coun David Whipp, Pendle Council’s deputy leader, added: “Employment now at Rolls Royce in Barnoldswick has gone down to around 400, I understand. I think that’s part of the issue. We are seeing a pre-eminent aerospace company downsizing in Pendle. The site is huge and old sheds and test beds from the 1960s have been swept away. It’s a blank canvas which needs new green shoots of recovery.

“We have around 3,000 small and medium sized firms which support engineering excellence. A whole range of manufacturing creates jobs and wealth. So it’s important that Pendle  is the focus of new green technologies.”

Conservative Coun Ash Sutcliffe, a borough and county councillor with a lead role in skills at Lancashire County Council, said: “I support this. Skills and education must be part of this. It’s important to keep hold of skills before we lose them. A lot of work is being done about apprenticeships and supporting businesses. It’s important that businesses understand the help available for them to get the right people in the right roles.”

Independent Coun Asjad Mahmood, the council leader, said: “I support this too. We have world-renowned companies and very specialised skills. It’s crucial that we keep developing this. We raised this and other topics with the new MP, Jonathan Hinder, at a recent meeting.”

Councillors from all political groups formally voted to back the call.