OVER 80 jobs are to be created with the help of £2 million of public money as a British aircraft maintenance company opens a base at Glasgow Prestwick Airport.
The £8.5 million investment by Chevron Aircraft Maintenance includes an £2 million injection through a Scottish Enterprise regional selective assistance grant.
The Manchester-based is to establish a centre of excellence for aircraft engineering, maintenance and training at the airport in early 2017.
It has already signed a ten year lease with Glasgow Prestwick Airport and the company expects to increase turnover from £9.6m in 2016 to £19m by 2021.
Scottish Development International managing director Paul Lewis said the investment was a "fantastic boost" to the aviation engineering industry in Scotland.
"Chevron will now join the many international investors who benefit from our competitive business environment, strong skills base and effective support network, which help make Scotland the top performing location for inward investment after London.
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"We look forward to supporting Chevron’s ambitious growth plans and wish them every success."
Glasgow Prestwick Airport chief executive Ron Smith, said the leadership team see the development as a "building block on the way to delivering a profitable and sustainable airport" for the long term.
“Chevron will bring in additional revenue for us through this lease but we also hope that this will provide us with an additional selling point for passenger and cargo airlines and other aviation customers including executive, military and general aviation to operate services to and from Glasgow Prestwick Airport," he said.
“We will be working closely with Chevron to offer our support to help them build their business – their success will bring us success."
Chevron Aircraft Maintenance managing director Neil Morris, said: "The airport is in an excellent location at the midway point of the Great Circle Route making it a convenient stop off point for the many aircraft that have existing flight planning over the airport."
Economy Secretary Keith Brown said: “The company’s investment, which is being supported by our economic development agency Scottish Enterprise, underlines their commitment to Scotland, and is great news for the local Ayrshire economy. This development will bring many new and highly skilled jobs to the Prestwick area."
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The 150,000 square foot base encompasses a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) hangar, teardown and parts processing facility and aircraft parking area supported by fleet management care and maintenance services and management offices.
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