Drone firm bolsters town's growing tech industry

A manufacturing company has announced it is the latest enterprise to set up operations, bolstering a town's budding drone industry.

Icomat has announced it is opening the new facility, known as Factory II, at the former Retrac site in Kembrey Park, Swindon, and follows on from previous announcements by six other companies with links to the industry.

The Gloucester-based company, which was developed from a Bristol University research project, hopes to create 75 jobs.

Stuart Donovan-Holmes Head of Defence at Icomat said: "Swindon has rapidly become a centre of gravity for companies developing the next generation of autonomous defence platforms, and that was a major factor in our decision."

Icomat makes advanced components for the aerospace, automotive and defence sectors, including parts for drones.

Swindon North MP Will Stone said the Icomat news was a vote of confidence for the town and he was "proud" of the council "to land such a fantastic company in the town that will provide good skilled jobs for the people of Swindon."

He added: "Icomat has a huge role to play in Swindon's future."

Swindon's growing drone industry comes after several big-name companies left the town.

More than 3,000 jobs were lost in 2021 when the town's Honda plant closed, in what was described as "devastating" news for the town.

The car manufacturer pulled out of the town due to falling sales and competition by the popularity of electric cars.

Elsewhere Regent Circus, built on the former Swindon College site, was heralded as "regenerating" the town centre on opening, but has since lost all of its tenants other than a single restaurant.

Previously, Will Stone MP said Swindon's "industrial capacity" and "gritty working people" made the town a sound base for manufactures.

Icomat's Swindon facility will complement the company's existing facility in Gloucester, which opened in 2025.

Donovan-Holmes added: "We want to be close to ambitious engineering businesses scaling innovative systems and help them move from prototype to production.

"This expansion enables us to create high-value jobs while supporting the next generation of UK defence and aerospace capability"

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