Boeing has broken ground at Sheffield Business Park site on its first European manufacturing facility after Sheffield City Council recently granted planning permission.

The 66,700 sqft building, due to open in late 2018, will manufacture actuation system components for Boeing’s Next-Generation 737, 737 MAX and 777 aeroplanes.

Sir Michael Arthur, president of Boeing Europe and managing director of Boeing UK and Ireland, said: "Seven months after announcing our intention to build a factory in South Yorkshire, we are proud to celebrate the ground-breaking of Boeing Sheffield and welcome more Boeing employees to our company.

“Boeing Sheffield is further evidence of Boeing’s long-term commitment to the prosperity of this country. We are grateful to the communities of Sheffield and Rotherham, as well as Sheffield City Council and the Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership, for supporting Boeing Sheffield and our growing presence in the region."

Boeing Sheffield will be a part of Boeing Fabrication, the company’s in-house parts-manufacturing operation. The facility will initially employ 30 people on opening, growing to more than 50 employees.

This includes 19 manufacturing apprentices, who have already been recruited and are being trained at the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) Training Centre in Rotherham.

The UK Government and Boeing announced a long-term initiative for prosperity and growth in the UK in July 2016.