AEROSPACE
The UK aerospace industry is the second largest in the world behind that of the United States, and it is an export-driven industry. In 2022, UK civil aerospace turnover totaled approximately £27.3 billion ($34.5 billion). The UK aerospace industry is the crown jewel for UK exports and, even though the UK does not produce large civil aircraft, 70% of domestic aerospace production is exported.
The UK has a reputation as a global center of excellence for the design and production of engines, helicopters, wings, structures, and aircraft systems (including landing gear). All wings on Airbus commercial aircraft are designed in the UK and the majority built in North Wales. In addition to manufacturing, the UK has a thriving maintenance, repair, and overhaul sector (MRO), which provides services to the large numbers of military and civil aircraft that fly through and from the UK every year.
More than 3,000 aerospace companies operate in the UK, and the aerospace sector has the largest number of SME companies in Europe, providing over 282,000 jobs directly and indirectly.
Delivery drones could become business as usual in the UK by 2030. Large retail and logistics companies are investing in delivery drones with the aim of achieving increased efficiency, lower costs, and increased customer satisfaction. The scope of delivery drones could also be beyond dropping off parcels in the “last mile” of client logistics. Drones will be ubiquitous in warehousing and able to autonomously conduct real time stock checks by scanning inventory. This will integrate seamlessly with other ground-based autonomous warehouse robotics in an end-to-end management and movement of inventory driven by AI with no human touch.
Our team has a background in Aerospace Engineering and extensive experience working with OEMs and primes such as Airbus, BAE Systems, Boeing, GKN, MBDA, Rolls-Royce, Spirit and more recently startups like Vertical Aerospace and ZeroAvia in delivering their Electrification and Hydrogen R&D projects.
We can help you find partners in the Aerospace sector and connect you with the right people.
We draw on our extensive academic and research network partners, such as University of Bath, University of Bristol, Cranfield University, Nottingham University, CFMS, the National Composite Centre, the Manufacturing Technology Centre to support our work.