Robin Sims-Williams

Robin Sims-Williams

I completed a six-month secondment to the SBAC and returned to Airbus in April 2005. I am 25, a Cambridge graduate and have a Masters degree in Engineering. In 2002 I joined Airbus through their Direct Entry Graduate scheme. Prior to becoming an industry secondee at the SBAC, I worked in landing gear procurement. On my return to Airbus I will be on the landing gear systems engineering team.

At SBAC I worked with the Aerospace Technology Steering Group (ATSG), which is part of the Aerospace Innovation and Growth Team, supporting the implementation of National Aerospace Technology Strategy (NATS). My technical background, combined with enthusiasm and communication skills proved invaluable. Also, I was able to draw on my project management experience.

During my secondment, much of my day to day work was communicating. I've worked with SBAC's industrial partners, at a senior level, and interacted with the Department of Trade and Industry, helping to improve the understanding of the mechanisms and implications of the NATS. A key to this is communicating the benefits of the NATS to stakeholders in the industry. More specifically, I supported a commercial task force in its work developing Intellectual Property agreements for the collaborative groups carrying out the NATS programmes. Another important part of my work was to support a couple of NATS programmes, focused on improving environmental affects from aero-engines, in their definition phase.

After my secondment, I now have a much wider understanding of the technologies in the aerospace industry, as well as how government and industry relate to each other. Additionally, I have learned about technology areas outside the commercial aerospace sector. The chance to interact with senior personnel across the industry and government, developing and building relationships with people in various companies and organisations, has been invaluable.

I have discovered that, as the voice of the aerospace industry, the SBAC is able to bring different companies and key aerospace players together (some of whom may be competitors) to discuss and challenge UK aerospace issues at a national level. SBAC has an important role in facilitating these discussions and publicising the industry view.

My time with SBAC has been a great opportunity to broaden my mind and see how different companies and organisations work. I will miss working with the ATSG and its support team. Working with the support team, a group of secondees from the aerospace industry and the civil service, has been very helpful in terms of cross-fertilisation of ideas and establishing relationships. I was one of a series of secondees to support the ATSG, including people from Airbus, QinetiQ, Smiths Aerospace and the Ministry of Defence. This was a great opportunity for me to interact with engineers and management from across the aerospace industry.

My advice to secondees is that they should really immerse themselves and get to know as many people as possible across the industry. Then they should build on these relationships. The opportunity to develop contacts through the SBAC is unique and is incredibly useful to secondees when they return to their companies.

Diane Flynn, Technology Project Manager at SBAC and Robin's manager, wanted to say a few words about him:

The best part about having secondees like Robin participate in the National Aerospace Technology Strategy is that he part of the generation of aerospace employees who will be managers of their companies when the technologies in the strategy finally become products. He has had the opportunity to work with researchers, thought leaders, and funding bodies at the ground level, which will prepare him for the next stages of his career. His background in engineering and at Airbus has allowed him to make unique and valuable contributions to the overall programme. We will miss him, and wish him continued success in his career with Airbus.