There is a long and illustrious history of excellence in the aerospace industry in Scotland. Scottish aerospace achievements include producing the fuel system that led to the jet age and pioneering the new radar for the Eurofighter Typhoon.
The country boasts four major international airports, among them the UK's largest freight airport and world's busiest heliport. Scotland is home to over 150 aerospace-related companies, employing some 18,000 staff and generating turnover of £2.1billion annually.
The aerospace industry in Scotland
Scotland hosts around 10 per cent of the UK aerospace industry, with expertise in several sectors including:
Over 22 million passengers were passing through Scottish airports by 2005, with that number set to rise in coming years. Excellent links to the rest of the UK, Europe, North America and elsewhere in the world help stimulate further growth in several areas of the aerospace industry in Scotland.
Inward investment in the Scottish aerospace industry
Scottish aerospace is at the forefront of the industry worldwide and offers substantial opportunities for serious investment. Already Scotland excels in a number of important areas of aerospace, with scope for further development.
Excellent public/private partnerships exist, and growth in the aerospace industry is promoted, with funding available for several projects. Many of the top global aerospace and defence companies have facilities in Scotland, while world-class research and development is further stimulating investment in the aerospace industry in Scotland.
The aerospace industry in Scotland – infrastructure
Scotland’s universities produce a high number of engineering and aeronautical graduates, and carry out groundbreaking aerospace research and development. Scotland is also an established base of design engineering and can offer a full aerospace supply chain.
There is a commitment to skills development, with 500 apprentices – 20 per cent of the UK total – working within the defence and aerospace industries in Scotland. Home-grown companies complement some of the world’s largest aerospace companies in the industry in Scotland.
A quality workforce supporting aerospace in Scotland
There is a high level of specialist expertise for aerospace companies who locate in Scotland to take advantage of. Within the Scottish aerospace industry, there are rising productivity levels supported through collaborative working and sharing of best practice.
Our workforce is one of the best-trained, most reliable and most cost-competitive in the world. The aerospace industry in Scotland also benefits from a pool of migrant workers.
Find out more about the benefits of investing in aerospace in Scotland
Key facts about the Scottish aerospace industry further underline the strengths of the industry
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