New report identifies the investment opportunities in the Midlands’ world-leading aerospace supercluster

A new Midlands Engine report articulates the investment potential of the region’s world-leading aerospace supercluster.

The result of an extensive roundtable with senior stakeholders, the report focuses on how the supercluster – with its 500 businesses generating £5.3 billion GVA – can collaborate with industry, academia and government. In doing so, this will ensure the sector can make the most of investment opportunities whilst addressing key challenges around innovation commercialisation, SME funding and the talent pipeline.

Co-produced with the Midlands Aerospace Alliance, the report explains how the region is strategically positioned to capitalise on the next-generation narrow-body aircraft market—projected to dominate global aviation production over the next two decades. It is already a global hub for the design and manufacture of aero-engines, advanced aircraft systems and aero-structures, and production of flying parts.

The roundtable – held at the University of Nottingham earlier this year – discussed the the region’s robust supply chain, cutting-edge propulsion capabilities and an internationally significant innovation ecosystem which is actively working together as part of the Invest in UK University R&D campaign.

The report looks at the supercluster through four main angles: business and investment; innovation; talent and investment opportunities.

It also has a number of strategic asks which include

• backing the industry strategically through funding and regulatory commitments that support the entire supply chain and ensure international competitiveness
• addressing local talent pipeline risks through PhD programmes and appropriate apprenticeships with a renewed focus on industry experience for graduates of aerospace
• promoting the significance of the Midlands aerospace cluster globally
• Address competitiveness through improved local business conditions for manufacturers

Read the full report here

Throughout December 2024 and January 2025, Midlands partners came together a series of roundtables to explore the investment potential of some of the biggest clusters in our region – from aerospace to cyber and defence, nuclear energy to space technologies. These roundtables have shaped the development of a series of white papers exploring the key strengths, assets, challenges and growth areas for each key industrial cluster, outlining policy levers of cluster growth and showcasing the work of key companies.