Graham Chisnall, chairman of FAC and Alan Fisher, CEO
The aerospace sector’s push for net-zero flight will result in an aviation revolution that will be as influential as Whittle’s jet engine, a conference has heard.
Businesses in aerospace and their supply chains were urged to look for funding to invest in research, innovation and development to help propel the sector forward.
Numerous funding opportunities are available through various schemes, especially for small and medium-sized companies, delegates were told.
The Farnborough Aerospace Consortium’s (FAC) annual conference held at Brooklands Museum in Surrey was addressed by a number of industry heavyweights.
They spoke about the push for sustainable and net-zero flight which presented SMEs with opportunities.
It was also heard that some companies struggled to recruit into the sector because graduates felt it was not ‘green’ enough.
Keynote speaker Stephen Cowan, vice-president general manager of GKN Aerospace and a board member of the Aerospace Growth Partnership, said it was an issue but encouraged young people to go into the industry.
Graham Chisnall, chairman of FAC, said: “Many of our members are SMEs and part of our role is to help them access funding and secure contracts with the big mutli-nationals.
“We were able to do both at our conference with a number of speakers outlining how investment was available.
“Other speakers from the big companies stressed again how they depend on their supply chains and that there were always opportunities for SMEs.
“We had a presentation from Paul Griffiths, Head of Aerospace and Space at the Department for Business and Trade, to get insight about the new government’s position.
“There were also speakers from companies including BAE Systems, GE Aviation, Boeing and Airbus.
“There was excitement at the conference for the future of the industry but it is important that Britain remains a world leader.
“We heard that the industry was on the cusp of a revolution that would have the same impact as Whittle’s jet engine.”
Speakers were quizzed by delegates
Paul Griffiths, Head of Aerospace and Space Team at the Department for Business and Trade, with Alan Fisher, FAC’s chief executive officer
Stephen Cowan, vice-president general manager of GKN Aerospace and a board member of the Aerospace Growth Partnership
Melanie Davies, Global Sourcing Compliance – GE Aviation
Paulina Mielech. Head of Programmes, Beagle Tech Group
Paul Foster, Principal Decarbonisation Consultant at Auditel
Richard Nanton, pilot and founder of CarbonNetZero Ltd
Jacqueline Castle, Chief Technology Officer, ATI
Duncan Levesley, Director, Major Programmes, Grant Thornton
Harriet Wollerton, ADS Services Director
Dr Mark Helliker, Innovation Partner, south-east region, DASA
Jo Bray, Airbus Defence and Space
Matt Eagle, senior manager, fixed wing supply chain, The Boeing Company
Nick Goss, senior project manager, Parker Meggitt
The FAC team
ends
About the Farnborough Aerospace Consortium:
Farnborough Aerospace Consortium (FAC) is one of the longest established aerospace and defence trade associations in the UK.
It has circa 200 members nationally and internationally to serve its membership in the south and south east of England, the heart of UK aerospace.
Through its unrivalled experience and expertise, the FAC acts as an enabler for business between large primes and the supply chain – especially SMEs.
Website: www.fac.org.uk
Phone: 07903 998058
Email: Kim.Yeomans@fac.org.uk – Or contact Ed Baker at Deep South Media on 07788392965
