• Thirty-seven suppliers, ranging from SMEs to UK-based multinationals, attended the UK Supplier Conference at Boeing, Seattle
• Visit included briefings on Boeing’s customer requirements, enhanced partnerships, market dynamics, one-to-one business development meetings and Boeing factory tour
• Builds on Farnborough Airshow Boeing UK growth announcement

Since Boeing’s activities in the UK began more than 75 years ago, the company has developed a long standing relationship with British industry. Boeing’s UK employee base now surpasses 2,000 people and in 2015, £1.8billion was invested with more than 250 of its UK suppliers.

Boeing recognises the UK as a ‘critically important market’, with a strong supply chain base and innovative technologies. At Farnborough International Airshow 2016, UK government and Boeing, jointly announced a long-term partnership agreement, aiming to boost UK prosperity through increased industrial engagement, as part of the Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR).

Part of this agreement includes expanding opportunities for the UK supply chain, such as additional bidding opportunities and competitiveness initiatives, with an aim of creating the opportunity for UK companies to double their supply work with Boeing and to win higher proportions of content on future Boeing aircraft.

Building on this aspect of the initiative, last week, representatives from 37 UK companies and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), visited Boeing in Seattle for a supplier conference. The companies in attendance were SMEs and UK-based multinationals with the potential or continued potential to supply Boeing on existing or future platforms.

Paul Everitt, ADS Group Chief Executive commented: “Boeing has long been part of the UK’s aerospace and defence industrial landscape, providing valuable jobs and skills that make a direct contribution to the UK economy.
“By hosting this visit and inviting UK companies to Seattle, Boeing is making a clear commitment to UK businesses, encouraging their growth and providing opportunities for them to succeed. The aerospace growth partnership is focused on improving the competitiveness and global opportunities of UK suppliers. It is great to see Boeing playing its part in helping to secure UK growth & prosperity.”

During the visit, UK suppliers took part in:
• A business conference examining the UK-Boeing partnership, market demand and dynamics that inform the future supplier relationship, a briefing on the Boeing acquisition process and discussions on enhancing competitiveness.
• One-to-one business development meetings
• Boeing factory tour.

Sir Michael Arthur, president of Boeing Europe and Managing Director of Boeing UK and Ireland, said: “The UK is a critical source of high-quality suppliers for Boeing, across both our commercial and defence businesses,” said. “Since 2011 we have more than doubled Boeing’s spending with UK suppliers. As we deliver Boeing’s growth plans for the UK we are working with the Government to ensure we also provide additional opportunities for our partners in the supply chain.”

International Trade Minister, Mark Garnier said: “This supplier conference is a key milestone in the UK’s partnership with Boeing, which was announced at the Farnborough Airshow earlier this year.
“The UK government wants to see UK suppliers winning more work directly from Boeing and this event will provide a real opportunity for some of our highly capable civil and defence aerospace suppliers to engage directly with Boeing’s decision makers. We look forward to continuing our work with Boeing as it grows its business in the UK and strengthens its ties with the wider UK civil and defence industry.”

For more information, please see this press release.