Analysis: How aerospace & defence is driving skills requirements in the north west

In the second part of this series on the implications of emerging technologies for engineering and manufacturing labour and skills, we turn our attention to the Aerospace and Defence industry in the North West. The North West has a rich history in Aerospace and Defence, with major players such as BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, and Airbus Defence and Space, all having well-established operations in the region. According to the ADS Group, the industry has an optimistic outlook for 2023 despite a challenging end to 2022, stating that the Aerospace and Defence sector is expected to experience growth due to increasing competition, technological advancements, and the need for sustainability.

The Aerospace sector is the region’s single largest manufacturing employer, making up five per cent of the North West’s manufacturing workforce. Figure 1 illustrates the distribution of the aerospace industry workforce by region in Great Britain.

The Aerospace and Defence industry faces significant challenges from increased competition, climate change and technological advancements. Enginuity has consolidated five key industry technology roadmaps to identify the prevalent themes and key technologies which will shape the development of the industry in the North West and its demand for skills.