UK at a ‘decisive’ juncture to remain an aerospace heavyweight, argues Sheffield's AMRC
The UK’s position as a global aerospace heavyweight is at a critical juncture, according to a new policy paper published by the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC).
Unveiled at the Farnborough International Airshow, the policy paper calls for a national five-year mission to secure next-generation aircraft production.
The paper aims to set out a strategic path to maintain and grow the UK’s aerospace sector, which makes up 10 per cent of the global market – contributing £14.3bn to the UK economy and supporting more than 100,000 highl skilled jobs.
Authored by the AMRC’s chief executive officer Ben Morgan and chief technology officer, Andrew Silcox, the paper is titled ‘Flying high: Driving innovation, resilience and growth of UK aerospace’.
Mr Morgan said: “The coming years will be decisive for the country's manufacturing footprint. The critical pinch point right now is our Tier 1 supply chain – companies that hold the key to delivering future aerospace platforms but often lack visibility of rapid technical advances or the deep resources needed to invest in them.
"This policy paper is a direct call to action. It outlines the precise interventions – from de-risking industrial development through the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) to scaling supply chain incentives and rebuilding our national skills frameworks – required to ensure the UK captures its share of a booming global market.”
With global demand soaring toward an estimated 65,000 new aircraft by 2050, industry giants Airbus and Boeing are preparing to launch new aircraft families built on advanced, sustainable technologies, while Rolls-Royce has shared ambitions to re-enter the narrowbody market for the first time in more than a decade.
The new paper has argued that to win these major contracts and capture a growing share of the shifting market, UK suppliers must rapidly develop and adopt advanced technologies, processes and skills by the end of this decade.
To secure the future of UK aerospace production, the policy paper outlines three key recommendations.
It recommends de-risking industrial development by maintaining long-term collaboration and funding, scale the supply chain by provide targeted incentives through HM Treasury and the Department for Business and Trade and building skills at all levels.
Katherine Bennett CBE, chief executive officer of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, said: “UK aerospace has spent decades proving what it can do and the opportunity in front of us now is bigger than anything the sector has seen in a generation. This policy paper sets out exactly the kind of coordinated long-term action that will let UK suppliers win their share of the next generation of aircraft programmes.”