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NewswireToday - /newswire/ -
Aston Science Park, Birmingham, United Kingdom, 2007/03/23 - More than 50 of the region’s leading aerospace businesses have attended the third West Midlands Aerospace Forum at the new Cold War Museum at Cosford in Shropshire.
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Aerospace is one of 12 business clusters identified by Advantage West Midlands to increase the region’s competitive advantage, reputation and wealth creation by encouraging companies to collaborate and exploit opportunities.
Aerospace is a vital sector in the West Midlands economy with 450 companies employing some 25,000 staff with turnover projected to double by 2020, growing at rates of almost five per cent per year.
Keynote speaker was Peter Hogg, BAE Systems’ director of procurement strategy who presented on how the region can maintain an environmentally sustainable supply chain.
The industry in the East and West Midlands is represented by the Midlands Aerospace Alliance which receives funding from Advantage West Midlands (advantagewm.co.uk).
Jim Coyle, Advantage West Midlands Aerospace Cluster Manager, said: “Aerospace is one of the region’s growth markets and, given the wealth of manufacturing excellence in the West Midlands, companies are well placed to take full advantage.
“Aerospace is also a sector where collaboration is already happening which means smaller companies are able to get into the supply chain and withstand the ebbs and flows of a global economy.”
Andrew Mair, Chief Executive of the Midlands Aerospace Alliance, said: “This is the third time we have hosted the cluster forum and it is easy to see the progress that the sector in the West Midlands is making.
“Each year, we are making greater progress as companies work more closely and look to diversify into new products.”
“Aerospace is a golden opportunity for manufacturing companies and the Midlands Aerospace Alliance is there to make sure the industry thrives in our region.”
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