Strengths
Skills and expertise
- Scotland has a skilled workforce with a history of manufacturing excellence, with expertise in advanced aerospace materials and structures, Aerodynamics and computational fluid dynamics and systems engineering
- Over 50 academic research groups are focused on research & development projects with application in the aerospace, defence & marine market
- There is a strong focus on composites, with Spirit AeroSystems European Composites Development Centre based at Prestwick and significant involvement the R&D behind the Airbus ‘Next Generation Composite Wing’ programme
- Scotland has a long association with R&D and manufacturing in the electronics market, having the largest defence electronics manufacturing site in the UK at SELEX Galileo and with a significant skills base in sensors, optics and IR technology for the defence market
- A large pool of students graduate each year from Scotland’s well-respected education system with qualifications relevant to the aerospace, defence & marine sector – with a strong focus on engineering and technology
Supportive infrastructure
The Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Service (SMAS) provides free expert advice, one-to-one support, training and events for manufacturing businesses of all sizes throughout Scotland. The practitioner team consists entirely of hands-on experts in process improvement, lean manufacturing, innovation and allied disciplines.
SMAS are also responsible for delivering the Aerospace & Defence specific Supply Chain 21, the change programme which aims to accelerate the competitiveness of the UK's defence and aerospace industry by raising the performance of its supply chains.