Essential to achieving socioeconomic prosperity and national security, the importance of the UK’s aerospace, defence, security, and space sectors cannot be understated.
SPOTLIGHT ON UK AEROSPACE, DEFENCE, SECURITY AND SPACE
Across all regions of the UK – England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland – society is underpinned by the aerospace, defence, security, and space sectors, from providing skilled jobs to enabling the net zero transition and protecting citizens. As such, these critical national assets are vital in effectively delivering the necessary technology, skills, and growth in the face of significant ongoing economic challenges.
As an integral hub for advanced manufacturing, the UK’s aerospace sector generates well-paid jobs and high-tech exports, as well as sustainable growth by driving decarbonisation through innovation and pledging to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Due to unprecedented global growth in the market, there are many opportunities available in UK aerospace that can be maximised over the coming years and decades.
A range of malicious and non-malicious threats are responded to by the UK’s security sector, with advanced physical and digital capabilities keeping the nation safe. At the cutting edge of exploring the universe and connecting people to the world around them, the UK space sector is also a world leader in the production of small satellites with extensive applications.
Against the backdrop of accelerating global competition, a comprehensive industrial strategy is required to provide an attractive investment environment, offer long-term funding certainty, address pressing workforce shortages, and put the UK on a more resilient, competitive footing.
As investment in the aerospace, defence, security, and space sectors is paramount for economic growth and national security, it is important for the UK to enable a conducive environment that attracts both domestic and foreign investors. All four areas also involve extended investment cycles, with decisions made today impacting technologies set to hit the market in the mid-2030s.
Moving away from disruptive stop-start funding cycles, which hinder business planning, towards securing long-term funding certainty is therefore imperative as it will empower companies to plan, invest in R&D, and maintain the UK’s global competitiveness. The labour shortage, meanwhile, is a twofold challenge in each of the four sectors, as there is both a skills gap and a lack of a steady supply of expertise for the future.
Amid global disruptions, the UK must additionally build more resilient and competitive supply chains by, for example, diversifying supply sources, investing in modern infrastructure, and promoting sustainable and ethical practices.
Addressing ongoing environmental, social, and governance (ESG) challenges and improving access to finance is essential to enable the aerospace, defence, security, and space sectors to contribute effectively to national challenges.
Q&A WITH ASH GASSON, DIRECTOR OF MEMBERSHIP, ADS GROUP
ADS Group advances leadership in aerospace, defence, security, and space. Ash Gasson, Director of Membership, informs us how the UK trade association enables prosperity and clean, secure growth for the nation
ADS Group (ADS) members are the custodians of a world-leading, advanced engineering and services workforce.
The association’s aims are to expand this unique workforce capability and national advantage by delivering sector investment and knowledge to the frontiers of advanced manufacturing.
ADS promotes its members in lifting the limits to a new future built on clean growth, sovereign capabilities for peace, and opening space to all.
Firstly, could you talk us through ADS’ purpose of representing the UK’s aerospace, defence, security, and space sectors?
Ash Gasson, Director of Membership (AG): ADS Group is proud to represent well over 1,300 members from the UK’s forward-thinking and entrepreneurial aerospace, defence, security, and space sectors.
We work with those sectors to secure the UK’s advantage, enhance our international positioning as a go-to destination for innovation, and deliver on our sustainable leadership goals. Whether representing industry, connecting our members with business opportunities, or driving forward innovation and growth, ADS is at the forefront of an array of activities, events, and programmes that benefit our members.
More than 90 percent of our members are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and we are proud to be present in five distinct locations. This is reflective of our members, who are the custodians of a world-leading advanced engineering and services workforce.
“We work with and across a large number of organisations, partners, and supporting bodies to deliver a range of highly valued activities and services on behalf of our sectors and the members we support”
Ash Gasson, Director of Membership, ADS Group
What organisations, partners, and supporting bodies does ADS work with to deliver a range of highly valued activities and services?
AG: We work with and across a large number of organisations, partners, and supporting bodies to deliver a range of highly valued activities and services on behalf of our sectors and the members we support. Whether representing industry or driving forward innovation, ADS is at the forefront of these activities.
We are at the heart of the joint industry-government growth partnerships that are shaping our sectors. We represent the interests of our members and encourage them to participate in the initiatives that flow from them.
We also hold collaboration agreements with 19 international trade associations and, through our delivery of UK Pavilions on behalf of the Department for Business and Trade, have an active network to empower the influence and overseas business opportunities of the UK’s aerospace, defence, security, and space sectors.
Are there any other projects or initiatives that ADS is involved in for 2024 that you would like to highlight?
AG: The UK Youth Rocketry Challenge (UKROC) is a great way to engage the next generation of engineers with practical experience in building and executing complex
missions. ADS runs UKROC, and 2024 is set to be the biggest and most geographically diverse edition to date, with more than 190 teams registered.
The competition is an exciting way to learn more about maths and science, with the UK winners getting the chance to compete against teams from the US, France, and Japan at the international finals.
How do you see the aerospace, defence, security, and space sectors developing over the coming years?
AG: In 2024, the UK stands at a crossroads. Growing global competition, proliferating international security challenges, the rapid pace of technological development, and the pressing need to develop a more resilient and sustainable economy are challenges that must be addressed if the next government is to secure strategic advantage for the UK.
Our four sectors – hubs of innovation, world-leaders in advanced manufacturing, protectors of our security – are more important than ever before. In turn, so too is the support we provide them, which must come from us, as industry; from politicians, as our governing bodies; and as people, forming a society we fight to protect.
The latest ADS figures highlight a 90 percent increase in aircraft deliveries year-on-year, with the backlog now worth some £244 billion to the UK. There is a significant order book, with industry rapidly adapting to respond – sustainably at that.
Recent years have also seen an increase in aerospace productivity, industry-government partnerships to ensure our collective security, rapid developments in our space sector, and a 203 percent rise in security and resilience turnover in the 10 years up to 2022.
“Our four sectors – hubs of innovation, world-leaders in advanced manufacturing, protectors of our security – are more important than ever before”
Ash Gasson, Director of Membership, ADS Group
Looking ahead to what is a critical general election year, what are ADS’ key priorities for 2024?
AG: ADS Group is calling upon all political parties to commit to a renewed industrial strategy, supported across Whitehall and the devolved administrations, and produced in partnership with industry.
Such a strategy would enable our world-leading primes and innovative SME supply chain to work in partnership with the government to ensure that the UK remains a hub for advanced manufacturing and services, and a leader in the opportunities presented by net zero and technological change.
ADS’ key priorities to enable prosperity and clean, secure growth for the UK include:
- Promoting sustainable practices and technologies to address climate change and reduce the environmental impact of our sectors.
- Supporting international trade and market access for our members, ensuring they can compete globally and seize opportunities in emerging markets.
- Investing in skills development, diversity, and inclusion to build a highly skilled workforce.
- Advocating for supportive industrial policies that encourage innovation, collaboration, and investment
in R&D. - Strengthening cybersecurity resilience and promoting best practices in the aerospace, defence, security, and space sectors to protect against evolving threats.
- Collaborating with government, industry, and academia to drive innovation and ensure the UK remains a global leader in aerospace, defence, security, and space.
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