Aerospace sector’s critical importance
Just last week, the biggest air show in the world took place in Farnborough, Hampshire – as it does every two years.
Now this was not the kind of air show where the days are dominated by Second World War-era plane fly-overs. No, this is a week in which the very latest in technology and innovation across the aerospace, defence, security and space sectors, from the UK and around the world, come together.
Why does this matter for us here in Wales? Well, for one thing companies like Airbus, GE Aviation and Zodiac Aerospace have invested heavily here over the years, bringing jobs and opportunities for many.
With the UK by far the leading exporter in Europe in these sectors taken as a whole – and the second-largest in the world – keeping the UK at the top of this game is critical to our future economic success.
And the secret of that success? True collaboration, business with government, alongside our great British universities like Cardiff and University of South Wales.
And crucially, it’s collaboration for the long term – 30 years, not 30 months. That’s what makes a proper industrial strategy. And that’s why this industry is an example for the whole of our economy. Proof in spades of how Britain can compete with the world – and win.
But our country is at a crossroads. Decisions being taken now will shape the UK for generations to come. Not just about Brexit, but about what kind of economy we want to be. There are serious questions to answer.
But here’s one certainty. We want this sector, with its track record of ambition and success to be at the heart of the UK economy of the future.
And the sector is crystal-clear on what matters to it in any Brexit deal. Frictionless trade with the EU – so parts can travel from Toulouse to Filton, or from Hamburg to Broughton, without delay or extra cost. Mobility of people alongside goods – so engineers can fly from Southampton to Sweden to fix aircraft wherever they break and maintain links with EU R&D programmes, such as the landmark £8bn Galileo Satellite project.
All of this is vital not just for Wales and the UK, but for the whole continent of Europe. Aerospace is a team sport. Without collaboration – at scale – all parts of Europe will be weakened in the global aerospace race.
And looking ahead, while, the right immigration system is essential postBrexit to access the skills these businesses need, it must be matched by domestic investment. For the defence and security sectors, we need an equal focus on talent at home.
Investment in science, tech and maths education, alongside muchneeded reform of the apprenticeship levy in the UK – which has seen a 40% drop in new apprentices over the past year – are mission critical.
It is a time of great opportunity but it is also a time of great decisions in these sectors and the rest of our economy. The future of the aerospace sector here in Wales – and the many supply chain firms that depend on them – requires pragmatic and creative thinking in the weeks and months ahead.