A REDDITCH company is helping to lead the way in the global aerospace industry which has delivered a record-breaking number of aircraft for the sixth consecutive year.
In all 1,443 commercial aircraft rolled off the production line worldwide, representing up to £27bn to the UK’s aerospace industry, an increase of £4bn on 2015.
Aerospace is a strategically important industry for the West Midlands with companies such as GKN, whose headquarters are in Ipsley Church Lane, Redditch, and Rolls-Royce employing around 2,000 people in high-skill, high-value jobs.
With 13,567 aircraft on order – the highest ever level of demand – manufacturers are facing pressure to increase production rates. Since 2006 aircraft production has increased by 75 per cent delivering significant new investment, jobs and prosperity to the UK.
Business Secretary Greg Clark said: “Our modern industrial strategy will build on our existing strengths as an agile, modern economy and the UK aerospace sector is one of our great success stories, generating around £30 billion a year and supporting nearly 230,000 jobs.
“We are number one in Europe and the increase in global aircraft production is good news for the whole of our aero supply chain. With government and industry investing nearly £4 billion by 2026, we have shown our continued commitment to this vital industry.”
GKN is a global engineering business supplying key components to a wide range of industries including the automotive and aerospace.
