Aerospace calls for more support (From Gazette Series)

Aerospace calls for more support

ORGANISATIONS representing the aerospace sector in South West have lobbied MPs for more support for aerospace and defence to underpin the region's leading position in Europe.

Some of the region's most influential companies, including Rolls-Royce and Airbus, joined forces with the South West Regional Development Agency at a House of Commons reception last week hosted jointly by Kingswood MP Dr Roger Berry and Bristol North West member Dr Doug Naysmith.

Speaking at the event, Juliet Williams, chairman of the agency, said: "As the largest regional aerospace and defence sector in the UK, South West England must be given the resources to invest in its success and thereby maintain its position.

"Over 40,000 people from our region are directly employed in the sector and another 100,000 jobs depend on the industry. All stakeholders, including the industry itself and the Government, need to maintain investment so that we can continue to compete in the global marketplace."

South West England contributes a third of the UK's aerospace and defence GDP and has exports of nearly £3billion.

Issues currently affecting the sector include the need for a more qualified workforce in engineering and technology and in particular more training and apprenticeships to provide the next generation of engineers.

The Government was also asked to continue to support investment into the sector and the potential impact of funding cuts was highlighted.

The South West has the largest concentration of aerospace and defence companies in the world and is home to the majority of the large defence companies in the UK. Along with an additional 800 smaller companies, they manufacture a broad spectrum of components from small parts to entire aircraft.