Aerospace
The South West of England has one of the
largest and most significant aerospace clusters in the world. Ten
of the top 11 aerospace companies in the UK have headquarters or
major facilities here (including R&D, design, manufacturing and
procurement). More than 18,000 people are employed full-time in
aerospace within the region (Source: 2007 Regional Accounts
Econ-i.)
Forefront
Since 1847 when entrepreneurs Henson and
Stringfellow pioneered steam-powered flight in the South West of
England, this region has been at the forefront of developments in
aerospace and advanced engineering. It helped to develop the
technology that provided the Harrier jump-jet with its unique VTOL
capabilities and played a key role in iconic projects like
Concorde. Today, the South West of England is a prominent player in
civil projects led by Airbus and Boeing as well as defence projects
such as Typhoon Joint Strike Fighter and A400M.
World leader
Uniquely within the UK, the South West of England
is a world leader in airframes (particularly wings), engines,
equipment, rotorcraft and UAVs. Companies like BAE Systems, Airbus,
Rolls-Royce Defence Aerospace, MBDA and AgustaWestland can all
trace their roots back to this part of the UK.
Leading research
The South West's R&D expenditure is significantly higher
than the UK average (around 10% more, according to the Office of
National Statistics 2006). Aerospace-related research is being
carried out by world-class companies, universities, technical
consultancies (Atkins, QinetiQ, Halcrow, Fraser Nash) and the
Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) - one of the
largest research organisations in Europe. Underpinning the work of
these large organisations, there is a network of around 700 supply
chain companies, many of which are involved in leading edge
research of their own.
Support
Close ties between the academic and aerospace sectors have
resulted in a wide range of courses geared to the current and
future needs of the industry. The sector also benefits from the
support of the West of England Aerospace Forum (WEAF), one of the
largest aerospace and defence associations in Europe. WEAF
champions the interests of aerospace and defence organisations
within the region and offers a range of support services to raise
the profile of companies in a global marketplace.
Defence
Defence forms a significant part of the South
West's aerospace cluster. Within Bristol, for example, Defence
Equipment and Service (DE&S) employs around 7000 people and
controls a $25 billion budget covering the acquisition and support
of ships, aircraft, vehicles and weapons, as well as information
systems and satellite communications. It is also responsible for HM
Naval Bases.
For more information about investing in the South
West of England, contact Head of Inward Investment Ellen Stallins.