Since its beginnings in 1896 in France, the aerospace corporation has passed through several acquisitions, mergers and partnerships to become Safran Group, which employs more than 92,000 people across 27 countries. Its Gloucester operation comprises several companies, including Safran Landing Systems UK, formerly Messier-Bugatti-Dowty, which today employs around 1,100 people to design, develop, manufacture and maintain civil and military aircraft. The Gloucester site is the size of a university campus. As well as the distinctive white Art Deco building there are several brick factory-sized buildings and aircraft hangars situated either side of Cheltenham Road East.

In April 2025, Safran opened a new engineering and support centre at the site as part of a three-phase investment project that includes the renovation of existing facilities, the construction of new buildings, and the creation of a showroom. A notable feature of the new building is its reduced carbon footprint, underpinned by a ten-year energy partnership with Engie that will allow Safran's UK entities to meet their electricity requirements using UK solar production.