The UK Prime Minister supports the aerospace industry by providing £975 million to drive jobs and growth
In the next five years, the UK government will support jobs across the aerospace industry. Aerospace centres such as Broughton, Filton, and Derby will have their Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) Programme extended as part of the Government’s plan.
Cutting edge aerospace
Since the most recent budget, the Prime Minister will make his first appearance in Wales. The visit will take place today, November 15th, as Wales currently has the largest aerospace cluster in the world, employing over 20,000 people.
The Prime Minister, Kier Starmer, commented on the UK’s aerospace industry stating that it is world-class. The UK is one of the leaders in cutting-edge aerospace, and this major investment will help to support the tech of the future and will further support the mission to deliver growth and opportunity across the country.
Starting in January, businesses will be able to bid for a share of the funding, with projects set to kick off in the autumn. This comes as part of the government’s Industrial Strategy, which sees aerospace playing a key role in both growth and the nation’s Net Zero plans.
Aerospace and the UK economy
The UK is a key player in the global aerospace market, with the South West and Wales alone designing and assembling around half of the world’s largest civil aircraft wings.
The government’s commitment to this sector aligns with the importance of aerospace in national defence, with both the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Royal Navy relying heavily on its technology.
As well as the £975 million investments, the Prime Minister also confirmed £49 million for aerospace projects in Wales, where the sector is a major employer.
Airbus UK Chairman John Harrison praised the UK government’s commitment, noting that the funding provides long-term certainty for the sector.
With the aerospace sector set for continued expansion, the UK government’s investment promises to fuel investment, drive economic growth and secure the country’s position a the cutting edge of aviation technology for the future.
