Strengths

Skills and expertise

• Skilled aerospace workforce
• An excellent graduate and skilled worker pool to draw upon to drive the MRO industry forward
• Specialist education and training creates workforce up-to-date with industry developments
• Significant and growing apprentice schemes and college training programmes

High-quality existing infrastructure

• World-class MRO hub around Glasgow Prestwick International Airport and in the west of Scotland
• All of Scotland's major international airports have the capacity to accommodate MRO activity and expansion
• The MRO cluster benefits from no restrictions on airport opening hours
• Purpose-built facilities are available at Prestwick International Aerospace Park and Inverness Airport Business Park
• Availability of a 747-sized hangar at Glasgow Prestwick Airport with the ability to tap in to a trained MRO workforce

Cost-competitive

• Scotland can provide considerable savings when set against Germany, France and the south of England
• As congestion, development pressure and employment costs increase at the world’s main airports, there will be an expansion in MRO and support services at regional airports
• Cost-competitive salaries for highly-skilled staff can provide further economic benefits
• Scotland has a long-established history in engineering and a reputation for higher retention rates, making it well suited to capitalise on the industry’s growth