ADS launches #SMEsuccess campaign
This week, coinciding with the Autumn Statement, ADS launches #SMEsuccess: a campaign focussed on the success of our SME Members and how industrial strategies are enabling them to grow and become more productive and competitive. To see the full campaign, with new case studies each week, go to the #SMEsuccess blog.
We will highlight companies that have worked with key initiatives developed and implemented through the Aerospace Growth Partnership (AGP); the Defence Growth Partnership (DGP); and the Security and Resilience Growth Partnership (SRGP).
Paul Everitt, CEO of ADS Group says: “The government has been clear in its commitment to industrial strategies, including committing an additional £2bn to high-tech R&D through the new Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund. We look forward to working with the government to build on successful sector strategies that are investing in local growth and the UK's global competitiveness.
“Industrial strategies are genuine collaborations between industry and government providing increased investment in R&D, skills and productivity improvements, all of which underpin UK competitiveness.
“As we look towards the start of Brexit negotiations, industrial strategies provide the stability needed to sustain economic momentum and attract investment needed so that UK companies continue to thrive once outside the European Union.”
SMEs form the backbone of the UK’s industrial base, making a significant contribution to the UK economy. Continued support through industrial strategy is crucial to the growth of the sectors the SMEs supply into, to retain the UK’s leading global position.
Stone Foundries
Stone Foundries has been part of the Aerospace Growth Partnership’s Sharing in Growth (SiG) programme since 2013 and cites its work with SiG as enabling it to win more than £20 million in contracts in the last year.
A subdivision of Langham Industries, Stone Foundries is recognised by the aerospace and defence industries as a world-class UK producer of high integrity aluminium and magnesium, sand and investment castings. A global primary supplier of parts for helicopters, commercial and military aircraft, jet engines, motor racing and general engineering, their customers include Agusta Westland(Leonardo), Airbus, BAE Systems, MBDA and Rolls-Royce.
The Sharing in Growth programme has supported the company to improve its New Product Introduction (NPI) process as well as its corporate strategy and leadership skills. The company has also benefited from improvements in operational and procurement efficiency, as well as employees undertaking NVQs in Business Improvement Techniques.
Stone Foundries managing director John Townsend said: “With the support of the Sharing in Growth Programme, our capability and competitiveness have reached new levels, resulting in major long term global opportunities and investment in class leading new technologies.
“At the time we joined the programme, we were seeing light alloy castings work transferring from the UK and the USA to Eastern Europe and Asia. With the support of the Sharing in Growth Programme our capability and competitiveness have reached new levels, resulting in major long term global opportunities and investment in class leading new technologies including, process simulation, laser scanning measurement and 3D sand mould printing in line with customer needs.
“The market is tough but we are winning on innovation, speed, quality and efficiency and this will help Stone Foundries fulfil the growth ambitions set out when we joined the Sharing in Growth programme in 2013”.
About Sharing in Growth
Established in August 2013, the SiG programme helps aerospace supply chain companies to improve their productivity and competitiveness so they are better placed to win a share of continued growth in the global aerospace market. Each company participates in an intense four year training and development programme which attracts £1 million from the Regional Growth Fund (RGF) for each company.
Sharing in Growth (SiG) is helping a total of 50 companies achieve their aim of an average 50% increase in productivity and is currently recruiting to fill the final 10 places on the programme. The programme is backed by a total of £80 million from the RGF and endorsement from Airbus, BAE Systems, Boeing, Bombardier, GE, GKN, Leonardo, Lockheed Martin, Safran and Rolls-Royce, amongst others.
SiG’s 130 cross-functional experts deliver an integrated and bespoke transformation programme founded on leadership, culture and operational excellence. This core team is complemented by blue-chip specialists such as Deloitte, the National Physical Laboratory, Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre and The University of Cambridge’s Institute for Manufacturing who provide world-class development in strategy, communication, motivation, business planning, product verification, advanced manufacturing technologies and performance improvement.
Companies with a turnover of more than £10 million who are interested in joining the SiG programme should complete an expression of interest form which is available at: http://www.sig-uk.org/apply