Advanced engineering & aerospace

Engineering the future in Cornwall
The ingenuity of Cornish mining and railway engineers helped drive Britain's first industrial revolution. These days, the county's advanced engineering sector is making major contributions to many of the new technologies that are shaping our future in the 21st century.

Engineering and manufacturing businesses employ nearly 20% of Cornwall's workforce. They number some of the most technically advanced companies in the UK, with particular strengths in areas including precision metal-working, medical equipment, marine engineering, aerospace and renewable energy.

World-class centre of excellence
Cornwall has a host of attractions for companies in these fields:

Camborne School of Mines is a world-class centre of scientific and engineering excellence that actively fosters entrepreneurship, innovation and research.
A first-rate education system ensures a skilled workforce, while the county's enviable lifestyle means that there's no problem in recruiting talented personnel from elsewhere.
The county's many successful marine engineering firms have amassed a wealth of expertise that is proving readily applicable to other fields.
Cornwall already has an international reputation in alternative and renewable energy technology, an area that is set for rapid growth as sustainability becomes an increasingly urgent priority.

But for many engineering companies considering an investment in Cornwall, the deciding factor will be the proven success of so many other businesses in this thriving sector. Quite simply, success breeds success.

Aerospace cluster
The South West of England is one of Europe's most important aerospace industry regions. As well as several major prime contractors and systems suppliers, including Airbus, Rolls-Royce and Westland, the region also has over 500 aerospace supply-chain companies, many of them small and medium-sized enterprises. Overall, the sector notches up regional turnover of some £4 billion.

Cornwall itself is home to a significant cluster of aerospace businesses, thanks not least to the presence of the Royal Naval Air Station at Culdrose near Helston. Global industry players with local operations that work closely with RNAS Culdrose include:

Lockheed Martin, prime contractor and systems integrator for the Navy's state-of-the-art Merlin helicopters. The £2 billion contract involves close co-operation with GKN Westland, which manufactures Merlins at its Yeovil factory. Lockheed Martin's 500-strong team UK team is made up of 80% British personnel.
Serco Aerospace, a leading aviation support services provider that also manages and operates Newquay Airport. Serco employs around 250 people in Cornwall, including some 200 highly qualified engineers.

'Life-or-death' performance standards
Many Cornwall-based engineering businesses number aerospace companies among their clients. After all, aircraft components need to meet the most stringent requirements for performance and reliability - and in this respect Cornish companies have a reputation that's second to none.

Networks
No-one understands the need for efficient integration of component parts better than engineers. So it's no surprise that Cornwall's engineering companies have developed an excellent network aimed at raising the sector's overall profile and competitiveness:

The Cornwall Engineering Group enables its members - particularly small and medium-sized businesses - to pool know-how and resources so as to win orders that might be hard to fulfill on their own. It also organises regular networking and skills-building sessions.

Regional manufacturing firms can also draw on the support of:

The South West Manufacturing Advisory Service (SWMAS), whose network of specialists offers a full package of hands-on support to the region's manufacturers. As well as expert advice and information, SWMAS provides access to regional funding, training resources, and guidance on workforce development.

The aerospace sector also benefits from a regional association championing its interests:

The West of England Aerospace Forum (WEAF) works in partnership with industry, the public sector and academia to boost the competitiveness of the region's aerospace industry. WEAF organises project briefings by prime manufacturers and meet-the-buyer events involving buyers from across Europe. It also provides member companies with a low-cost but highly effective presence at air shows and international trade missions and runs sessions on new technologies, personnel development, competitiveness and best management practice.
Cornwall Aerospace and Defence Initiative (CADI) is a strategic partnership linking industry, local community, university, aerospace and defence sector interests.
CADI member companies offer a comprehensive and expanding range of advanced engineering manufacturing and logistics management services, with the capability to engage in longer term collaborative research and development with universities and prime contractors.
In addition to discounted WEAF membership, CADI members gain a range of benefits including significant marketing and networking opportunities locally, nationally and internationally, get assistance in gaining and maintaining the relevant quality management standards, and can become involved in various R&D collaborations.
An example of this is, Supply Chain for the 21st Century (SC21), this is a pilot initiative devised by the government. CADI members are the first group of companies in the UK to take part in this programme. CADI is part funded by Cornwall Enterprise and WEAF.