Zahawi visited the AMRC’s newest facility, the first High Value Manufacturing (HVM) Catapult centre in Wales, as part of an event to launch the ‘Aerospace Sector Deal – One Year On’ report by the Aerospace Growth Partnership (AGP).
The report called the UK’s aerospace sector a ‘world leader in the manufacture of engines, wings and advanced systems’. Aerospace directly employs 115,000 people across all parts of the UK and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) estimates the industry is worth £36 billion a year to the economy.
However, to remain globally competitive in 2020, the report said the sector needs to focus on the ‘delivery of technologies that help reduce the environmental impact of air travel’, citing Airbus’ Wing of Tomorrow programme, being delivered with the help of engineers at AMRC Cymru.
“Last year we became the first major economy to put a net-zero emissions target into law, ending our contribution to climate change,” said Zahawi. “With the number of flights soaring, it is clear that the aerospace industry will be critical as we make this massive transition, and the demand for green aviation technologies will be immense.”
Backed by £20 million from Welsh Government, AMRC Cymru has been built on the Deeside Enterprise Zone close to where Airbus is developing the Wing of Tomorrow programme. The facility opened in November 2019.
In his speech, Zahawi also highlighted the importance of the aerospace sector to the national economy: “The value of this industry is there in black and white for everyone to see in the report, and I’ve been pleased to see that the sector is focussed firmly away from the southeast with more than 90% of businesses located elsewhere across the country. The UK is the home of innovation and enterprise in aerospace, with a significantly large number of companies creating thousands of jobs for local communities.”
AMRC Cymru’s research director, Andy Silcox, says: “We were delighted to host the Minister for Business and Industry, and representatives from major UK aerospace manufacturers, including Airbus, Bombardier and Rolls-Royce. The event gave the AMRC team the opportunity to explain how we are working with the Welsh Government to help all Welsh manufacturers, regardless of which sector they serve, to adopt innovative production technology and help them reach new levels of productivity and sustainability. Aerospace will undoubtedly play a huge part in AMRC Cymru’s development, and we are extremely excited to be working on the automation and digitalisation of the Airbus Wing of Tomorrow.”
Colin Smith, co-chair of the AGP, adds: "The Aerospace Sector Deal was another landmark event in the partnership between government and industry, ensuring we continue to attract the right investment for the UK to remain a world leader in this sector, and to develop the skills and technology we need to thrive. In the past year, we’ve seen the Sector Deal’s key programmes get underway. These include: the launch of the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund’s Future Flight challenge, which is investing in technology to position the UK at the forefront of valuable emerging markets; the SC21 C&G programme and NATEP 3 in support of supply-chain companies; a commitment to develop apprenticeship standards; and the Women in Aviation & Aerospace Charter, which is working to increase levels of diversity and gender balance within the sector.
“The aerospace sector is now focused upon supporting the UK Government’s commitment to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. By working ever more closely with government, industry will continue to invest in the development of the third-generation technologies required to address this challenge.”