£7m boost for East Lancs aerospace industry (From Lancashire Telegraph)

£7m boost for East Lancs aerospace industry

6:30pm Monday 9th November 2009

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EAST Lancashire’s world-leading aerospace sector has been handed a massive funding boost.

The North West Aerospace Alliance (NWAA), which represents and supports companies across the region, has been handed more than £7million for another round of its training scheme.

Business leaders said the boost could eventually be worth £250million to the North West’s £7billion aerospace economy.

The cash comes from the North West Development Agency (NWDA) and European funding pots, and will bankroll training in small and medium-sized aerospace supply companies. NWAA bosses said they could not accurately predict how many East Lancashire jobs the cash injection into the supply chain excellence programme would create.

However, a large slice of the £7.1million is likely to be spent in the area where scores of aerospace supply companies, along with giants BAE Systems and Rolls-Royce, have their base.

Yesterday, the announcement was hailed by NWAA chief executive Martin Wright.

He said: “This is a significant milestone for the NWAA and the regional aerospace supply chain.

“It will be a major part of ensuring we remain the lead region for aerospace in the UK and builds its ability to compete on a global scale. It also gives the NWAA an unprecedented position as the leading aerospace cluster organisation in Europe and beyond.”

Under the supply chain excellence programme, smaller aerospace companies are mentored by representatives from BAE Systems, which has a huge site in Samlesbury, Rolls-Royce, which employs 1,000 in Barnoldswick, Burnley-based Aircelle or Airbus.

The scheme concentrates on developing employees in senior management positions and the NWAA said that since it was started in 2006, 300 new jobs have also been created.

NWDA chief executive Steven Broomhead said: “The first part of the NWAA programme is taking our regional supply chain to the next level, and the second will take us to the top of the ladder, offering a world-class integrated cluster capable of competing globally.”

The announcement comes a day after Mr Wright told the Lancashire Telegraph that sustained, long-term investment in advanced engineering was needed to ensure our aerospace firms remain world class.

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