New jobs promised as firm flies high

Dozens of new jobs are to be created at a major Black Country aeroplane systems manufacturer in the new year, it has been revealed.

Goodrich Actuation Systems in Wolverhampton will trawl for at least 30 more workers next month.

The company, which employs about 900 people to make operating systems for military and commercial aircraft, began a recruitment drive in September and is already in the process of taking on 65 engineers.

Goodrich originally advertised for 45 staff including engineers, test-fitters and apprentices.

Human resources manager Craig Christie said the firm has now increased that to 65 engineers, with roughly half of the positions having already been filled.

The firm, based on Stafford Road, Fordhouses, needs more people to meet a projected increasing workload after winning a host of new contracts.

Mr Christie said it was not yet known exactly how many jobs will become available on top of the engineers posts, or even the specific roles that will be required.

But he said: "It will be a minimum of 30 jobs.

"What we are doing is carrying over this year's activities to next year. Since September we have recruited 20 fitter-tester type positions and taken on 10 apprentices."

Applications for all posts can be submitted through the firm's website which can be found at www.goodrich.com

Goodrich's Fordhouses base falls within Conservative leader and Bushbury North representative Councillor Neville Patten's electoral ward and he welcomed the prospect of new jobs which he said will be good news for the area's economy and for residents who are looking for work.

He said: "It is going to be a boost not only in Bushbury, where we have a high unemployment problem, but in other parts of the city as well."

The actuation systems side of the Goodrich enterprise has its headquarters at Wolverhampton, which is also the base for manufacturing, maintenance and its product support department.

The company also has a base in Banbury, Oxfordshire, and Huyton, Merseyside.