THE first two companies have signed up to a landmark North West aerospace programme.

The North West Aerospace Alliance, based in Nelson, has launched the unique scheme designed to help its members drive down everyday costs.

It will see NWAA members working together to improve competitiveness by pooling their purchasing power and secure better deals on everything from tangible items such as utilities, stationery and transport to strategic services such as quality and environmental expertise.

Two companies, Merc Engineering of Barrowford and ELE Technologies of Colne, have become the first to sign up to the transport service, the first element of the programme to be launched.

This element of the project leverages a deal with logistics giant TNT to reduce the cost for members, initially for UK parcels and pallet movements.

In September, the second element of the shared services will be launched, focusing on driving down costs on consumables such as non-technical engineering workshop supplies and personal protective equipment.

Paula Stell, from the NWAA, said: “We believe this programme is unique in the aerospace industry, and has the potential to generate significant savings for the companies involved.”

Jon Hoyle, commercial director at Merc Engineering, said: “Merc Engineering is delighted to be partnering with NWAA and Unipart on the shared services project.

“Transport is the first service being rolled out to Merc and already we have been offered very significant savings.

“We look forward to working with the Shared Services team shortly on the consumables category. As costs are ever increasing, the aggregated procurement offered through the Shared Service’s team is a welcome support to us and will help us to remain competitive.”

Martin Harrison, finance director at ELE Technologies, said: “Like many manufacturing companies, we are always looking for opportunities to drive costs down.

“The shared services project has given us leverage and cost savings that we could never achieve on our own. We look forward to collaborating with NWAA and on the next categories.”