Released On 13th Aug 2019

President's Heartbeat 10th August 2019

Work has now commenced at the south-west corner of Leonardo airfield, Yeovil, on iAero, a £10m research & development and innovation centre; delivering 2,400sqm of purpose-built space, supporting rotary-wing aerospace, associated design and engineering technologies, and supply chains. This significant (and very visible) project, will sit at the Western gateway to Yeovil at the end of the Cartgate link road, and when
completed, will represent yet more investment into the economic growth and future of Yeovil. The build stage of the project is expected to complete by Q4 2020, and will feature high-quality office, light industrial and collaboration space as well as innovation support services, and allow the tenant aerospace contractors to "live-test" their work on helicopters and rotary-wing craft, operating out of a working airfield.

Developed by Somerset County Council, in partnership with the region's aerospace industry; primarily Leonardo Helicopters, Tods Aerospace and the West of England Aerospace Forum, and funded by ERDF, HOTSW Growth Deal, Somerset County Council, and Leonardo Helicopters. iAero will form part of the South West Regional Aerospace Hub, and is intended as a rotary-wing specialist facility. £3m of the funding is from the England European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme, helping local areas stimulate their
economic development by investing in projects which support innovation and businesses create jobs and local community regenerations.

I am proud to say that Yeovil Chamber has been involved in the project from the start, in consultation with Somerset County Council, WEAF, Leonardo Helicopters and potential tenants. iAero will be a very visible sign of the confidence being placed in Yeovil to deliver economic development and employment opportunities. Yeovil Chamber is now working with the project stakeholders to identify and create tenancy and work opportunities for local sector-specific and other contractors.

email me directly at president@yeovilchamber.org for further information on tenancy and tendering for build/fit-out work at iAero. 


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