Last week ADS hosted a webinar in collaboration with the Aerospace Growth Partnership on the priorities for the aerospace sector ahead of the Government Spending Review later this month.
In the webinar, we heard from industry experts including Katherine Bennett, Tom Williams and Nicola Mann on a variety of key issues the aerospace sector is working collectively for to build the next generation of greener aircraft, how to retain skills in the sector and secure the future of SMEs in aerospace.
What we covered
Tom Williams CBE, Chair of the ADS Supply Chain Taskforce, delivered an overview of how ADS, the AGP and other companies have come together to form a supply chain taskforce to look into what support the sector will need to recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. He highlighted the role in which Government can play in ensuring SMEs survive this period with a Government-backed equity fund alongside other forms of support.
Nicola Mann, Chair of the AGP Skills Group highlighted the work the AGP has undertaken in current months to maximise the retention and development of skills and employment throughout the sector during this challenging period. She also looked at the future of skills in the aerospace sector with future apprenticeships.
Finally, Katherine Bennett CBE, Senior Vice President at Airbus, looked at how Government can work together with the sector to deliver its Jet Zero ambitions through securing future funding to the Aerospace Technology Institute. She highlighted the successes the ATI has had in recent years, particularly its role in supporting the supply chain and SMEs.
ADS Spending Review Priorities to Government
Many of ADS member companies face continued threats to their future, given the ongoing impacts from COVID-19 and the prospect of further suspended economic activity in the months ahead. ADS are working with Government to call for additional direct support which is urgently needed to sustain business, retain skills and support liquidity across supply chains.
ADS has identified priorities that are essential for our world-leading sectors, including aerospace, defence, space and security, to build back better over the months and years ahead and in the upcoming spending and secure more highly-skilled, well-paid jobs across the whole UK. ADS is calling on the Government to do the following:
- Provide strategic funding for supply chains to ensure they are supported as growth returns.
- Ensure direct support to protect jobs, retain skills and fund apprenticeships.
- Deliver on the UK’s Jet Zero ambitions, by doubling funding for the Aerospace Technology Institute and investing in sustainable aviation fuels.
- Drive UK prosperity through defence and security by maximising the power of procurement and providing visible targeted resource and investment.
- Back investment in innovation to make the UK a global space leader.
