representing companies supplying civil air transport, aerospace defence and space

Thursday 28 August 2008

regional

regional

Figure 37 Regional SBAC member employment as a percentage of total SBAC Member employment

source: SBAC

This data is drawn from a regional breakdown of the SBAC survey. In several cases, exact site data was not available and employees were distributed pro rata on the basis of general knowledge of company structures. An employment multiplier has not been used and this data reflects direct employment in aerospace, biased towards the top 24 largest aerospace employers.

The South West, South East and North West of England are the three leading regions. Of these, the South West has the most comprehensive capability, including military aero-engines, airliner wing design and fabrications, rotary wing systems integration and assembly, and large avionics and mechanical systems.

Aerospace ?clusters' are more complex and do not necessarily coincide with administrative boundaries.

For example:

There are several ?sub clusters', at least three within the North West region.

Several ?sub clusters' extend across administrative boundaries. Airbus UK in North Wales is structurally better viewed as an element in a North Western sub cluster.

Supply chains are national, even global in scope. While clustering behaviour is significant, the role of supply networks have at least, if not more, impact on company performance and local effects. For example Rolls Royce (Derby) is at the centre of the East Midlands cluster, but much of aerospace in the West Midlands is also linked to Rolls Royce (Derby) as well as drawing in business from several other regions.

Location does not necessarily imply linkage. The cross boundary ?cluster' ranging from West Hampshire to Dorset contains a very disparate range of aerospace activities including space vehicles, aero structures and aerospace sub-systems. Companies operating in these sectors may share some general characteristics and demand similar business services, but their detailed concerns may differ markedly.

The regional aerospace footprint has remained relatively stable over the last three decades. However with the decline of conventional ?final assembly?, regional clusters have had increasingly to look to supply to national and global customers. Nevertheless as regional administrative structures become more important, the regional dimension will have increased significance for business support for much of the UK Supply Chain.