Alstom set to create new jobs after multi-million contract win
TRANSFORMER manufacturer Alstom has secured a multi-million pound order which will help to create new jobs and protect hundreds of others at its Staffordshire operation.
The French-owned company, which employs 5,000 people in the Midlands, has been awarded the contract by the Swedish state-owned utility company Svenska Kraftnät.
Alstom’s Engineering Centre of Excellence in Stafford will design and manufacture High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) equipment for the 1440 megawatt South-West HVDC Link Project. This new transmission infrastructure will help Sweden to integrate increasing amounts of renewable power into its electricity grid and improve the overall reliability of its network.
Kevin Marriott, Commercial Vice President for North West Europe, based in Stafford, said: “This is another great local engineering story for Alstom in Staffordshire and is part of Alstom’s strategic development as a world leader in this highly advanced technology.”
Alstom’s Staffordshire Engineering Centre of Excellence is working on a series of UK and international HVDC projects in the electricity transmission sector, including the Cross Channel Interconnector between England and France, and HVDC schemes in South Korea and Brazil.
“It all comes down to the engineering skills we have in Stafford through our highly skilled and competent local workforce,” added Mr Marriott.
“This contract award will create new jobs and secure existing ones for the future. The project reinforces the importance of our graduate and technician apprenticeships and ongoing training programmes that we are proud to provide in Stafford.”
The South-West Link project is due for completion at the end of 2014.
