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Management buyout at Keighley Laboratories Limited The executive management team at Keighley Laboratories Limited has completed its acquisition of the company from the existing shareholders.
Multi-million pound contract to equip Royal Air Force Typhoons with latest advanced radar capabilities The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has awarded BAE Systems a £870m contract to deliver a new radar to enhance the Royal Air Force’s (RAF) Typhoon fighter jet fleet and strengthen the aircraft’s control of the airspace, whilst providing cutting-edge electronic warfare capabilities.
Managed by Debbie and Matthew Mellor, the management buyout (MBO) means that the husband and wife team takes ownership of the business outright. Founded in 1920, Keighley Laboratories provides advanced metallurgy testing, consultancy and chemical analytical solutions to sectors including aerospace, marine, defence, nuclear, energy and rail. The company provides services to local, national and global markets, and is one of the longest standing independent UKAS ISO 17025 laboratories. The MBO was led by the company’s existing managing director Debbie Mellor and technical services director Matthew Mellor and was supported by a new debt facility from NatWest, facilitated by Sanjoy Kundu, Senior Relationship Manager. Commenting on the company’s growth plans, Matthew Mellor, said: “We believe that the future is extremely positive for the company and we look forward to developing further the range of the services we offer. We have in place a growth strategy for the business and several strategic partnerships, which will help progress the business and bring greater opportunities. “We have recently gained Boeing D1-4426 status, marking us a quality supplier and has been a significant achievement in our strategic plan of maintaining and extending the scope of aerospace approvals”.
Debbie has served on the Bradford Chamber of Commerce Leadership Group for the last nine years, and has recently joined the West Yorkshire Manufacturing Advisory Board, a manufacturing task force initiative set up by the Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin. Keighley Labs is also a long-time supporter of Bradford Manufacturing Weeks, and member of the Bradford and Airedale Manufacturing Alliance, with Debbie being vice-chair of the alliance. Commenting on the MBO, Debbie Mellor, said: “Myself and Matthew are passionate about the company. We have both worked in the business for over 30 years. Being managing director since 2007, this was the natural progression that was facilitated by the existing shareholders exiting the business. “We are keen to drive the business forward – providing quality technical metallurgical services from our team of experts whilst also ensuring continuity of service throughout the MBO” A team from law firm Gordons, led by corporate partner Duncan Firman and commercial property partner Nick Chamberlain, advised on the MBO, alongside Gavin Lamb from the Bradford office of accountancy firm Azets. Duncan Firman, said: “Keighley Laboratories is a long-standing client of Gordons. We are delighted to have been able to work with Debbie and the management team to secure completion of the transaction as part of the next phase of the company’s journey.”
“We have recently gained Boeing D1-4426 status”
The contract, awarded by the Ministry of Defence to BAE Systems, will see further development of technology and integration work on the European Common Radar System (ECRS) Mk2 radar by BAE Systems and Leonardo UK. The work is expected to lead to initial flight testing in 2024. BAE Systems leads the overall design, development, manufacture and upgrade of the Typhoon aircraft for the UK and Leonardo is the lead for the aircraft’s main sensing and survivability systems including its radar and defensive aids sub-system. The contract is part of the UK Government announcement made in July 2022, to invest £2.35 billion in the continued technology advancements in Typhoon capabilities, as recognition of its long-term role supporting national security and defence priorities. Andrea Thompson, managing director at Europe & International at BAE Systems’ Air Sector, said: “Typhoon is a fantastic aircraft which continues to provide crucial support to defence and security operations around the world, including NATO air policing in Eastern Europe.
Typhoon is a highly capable and extremely agile multi-role combat aircraft. It is capable of being deployed for the full spectrum of air operations, including air policing, peace support and high-intensity conflict. The RAF Typhoons are deployed alongside F-35B Lightning II to provide frontline capability for the UK. The Typhoon programme supports more than 20,000 jobs across all regions of the UK every year, contributing £1.4 billion to the economy annually. The ECRS Mk2 radar programme sustains more than 600 highly-skilled jobs across the country, including more than 300 at Leonardo’s site in Edinburgh, more than 100 electronic warfare specialists at the company’s site in Luton, and 120 advanced engineers at BAE Systems’ site in Lancashire.
“The continued evolution of Typhoon as a world-class combat air platform ensures the RAF maintains its advantage and protects the vibrant eco-system that supports our sovereign combat air capability in the UK, through sustaining and evolving the technical skills central to the UK’s future combat air strategy.” Mark Hamilton, managing director at Electronics UK, Leonardo, said: “ The ECRS Mk2 Radar programme will deliver world leading capabilities developed by our skilled engineers in both Edinburgh and Luton. “We are extremely proud to be contributing in such a way to the safety and security of the United Kingdom as well as ensuring that the UK is equipped to play a central role in next generation combat air programmes. ECRS Mk2 will not only provide critical capability to Typhoon but will also develop and sustain critical skills relevant to the Global Combat Air Programme.”
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plane talk autumn 2023
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@NWAerospace
plane talk autumn 2023
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