Warwickshire Site To Begin Work On Navy Frigates In 2020

Parts for the Type 26 frigates will be built at the site (Picture: MOD).

Manufacturing of engines for the next batch of Type 26 frigates will begin in January 2020.

The confirmation by GE Power bosses follows confirmation on Monday that the future of the company's site in Rugby, Warwickshire had been secured after being awarded a contract by the Ministry of Defence.

GE's George Kunder said the agreement represented a "rejuvenation" of the Rugby site and that it would become a "naval and UK service shop".

The site employs more than 250 workers making power conversion units.

The union Unite's Assistant General Secretary Steve Turner said on Monday that the GE workforce in Rugby "can look forward to working on the second batch of Type 26 frigates".

GE had previously announced the site's closure with its work being moved to Nancy in France by the end of 2019.

Responding to the announcement of the agreement at the Warwickshire site, defence minister Stuart Andrew said he was "pleased" work would continue at GE's Rugby site.

"This announcement comes after months of hard work by government officials and will ensure key skills and capabilities are retained in the UK," he said.