Jobs cheer as American firm is set to move in

B/E Aerospace, a large American company with headquarters in Miami, Florida, has decided to move its UK units to the Honeywell building just on the edge of Burgess Hill, bringing with it the prospect of dozens of jobs. Honeywell is moving to Lewes, its staff having reduced to about 30 from about 200 since its manufacturing was shifted out of Sussex. Members of the Burgess Hill Business Parks Association have been told that Glen Carpenter, the B/E Aerospace company’s facilities manager has visited town to sort out details of the move, which is expected to take place in the spring. The USA company intends to occupy the whole 32,000 sq ft building at Charles Avenue at the end of April, bringing its widespread UK operation together in Burgess Hill. B/E makes parts for aircraft and has production centres at Kilkeel in Northern Ireland, Leighton Buzzard and Lutterworth. Its world headquarters is at Wellington, Florida. News of the move comes as a welcome employment opportunity in the midst of the serious and long-running economic crisis. It is especially good news for the Burgess Hill Business Parks Association, a modern-day version of the old Burgess Hill Industrial Group, which is trying to improve the fortunes of local firms on the town’s industrial estates at Sheddingdean and at what was once known as the Victoria Industrial Estate. Peter Liddell, co-ordinator for the Burgess Hill Business Parks Association, told the Mid Sussex Times: “It is great news for Burgess Hill and the business parks that B/E Aerospace has decided to bring its operation to the town. We welcome them and hope that they find it to be a great strategic base for their plant in the UK. We look forward to the creation of new employment opportunities for local people too.” The Mid Sussex Times contacted the company earlier this week for further details but at the time of going to press these were not available. Honeywell is moving out because since losing the manufacturing work at Burgess Hill it no longer needs such large premises. B/E Aerospace took the opportunity after negotiations to consolidate its sites off Charles Avenue. Greg Bushell, marketing executive at Honeywell, Burgess Hill, said: “It’s no secret. We are relocating and all of us here are going to another site. We have already moved our manufacturing from here, and we have got sites all over the place. “I am sure it will be good for the area to have the other company move in.” Firms have been attracted to the industrial areas of Burgess Hill by the good road links from the A23, which can be accessed via Jane Murray Way and York Road. Other job generators are planned in the area. Nearby, the large plot between the Honeywell building and the CAE centre is being developed for a new B and Q DIY store, with Pets at Home. Neighbouring Haywards Heath (see page seven) is also set for a jobs boost soon. About 200 are likely to be created when the Haywards Heath station and Waitrose development is started.