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Lord Mandelson announces Government's investment in Airbus
14 August 2009
South West England warmly welcomes today's announcement by Lord
Mandelson of the Government's investment in the A350 XWB long-range
aircraft.
The £340 million loan is the culmination of several years of
national and regional backing for this important European
initiative.
The project is one of the largest-ever industrial investments
made in the region. It will strengthen the South West's position as
one of the world's biggest aerospace clusters, and support many
high value, high skill jobs, in the region and across the UK.
Jane Henderson, Chief Executive of the South West RDA (Regional
Development Agency) said: "We are delighted this globally
significant project is moving forward. It will keep the region at
the forefront of technological innovation in this key sector.
"We are especially pleased that the new aircraft will use
light-weight carbon composite materials, helping the sector achieve
a significant reduction in carbon dioxide emissions. The Agency has
played an important role in supporting research and development
into composites that will be directly utilised in this
project."
Composites are playing an increasing role in the aerospace
sector due to their considerable strength and low weight which
result in fuel savings and other significant environmental
benefits. They are also increasingly important in other sectors
such as renewable energy, marine, automotive and construction.
The South West RDA was a driving force behind the establishment
of the "Coral Reef SW" project, a partnership with Airbus, the
University of Bristol and other regional universities.
Based at Filton, Airbus's site outside Bristol, Coral Reef
provides state-of-the-art facilities to support research in
manufacturing and development of composites, and also includes a
knowledge transfer component, enabling regional business to benefit
from its findings.
In July, South West England was named Britain's first Low Carbon
Economic Area, reflecting its potential to develop globally
competitive green industries and to re-tool its traditional
industries for a sustainable future.
Ends
For further information please contact Ben Murch (at Filton)
07528 358 587, Sue Amiel 07528 358 364 or Virginia Marsh at the RDA
Press Office on 01392 229548.
Notes to Editors:
- The South West RDA leads the development of a sustainable
economy, investing to unlock the region's business potential.
- South West England has a substantial concentration of aerospace
activity, with the headquarters or major facilities for nine of the
top 12 UK aerospace companies and an estimated 27% of the UK's
industry located in the region.
- As well as Airbus, other industry leaders that already have a
significant presence in the region include: BAe Systems, GKN,
Cobham, AgustaWestland, Honeywell, Rolls-Royce, Messier Dowty and
GE Aviation.
- GKN announced its intention to invest heavily in composite wing
production in Bristol in January 2009; that and today's
announcement are two of the largest industrial investments ever
announced in the region.
- The aerospace industry has been identified as a priority sector
by the South West RDA since the agency was established a decade
ago.
- Projects funded or approved to date by the South West RDA
include: £3.3m for Coral Reef (see above); £2.1m for Astraea, a
programme to develop unmanned civil aircraft; £2.7m for the
Integrated Wing programme; £2.5m for Rolls-Royce's Environmentally
Friendly Engine programme; £8.0m for the Airbus-led Next Generation
Composite Wing programme; and £0.6m for the Messier-Dowty led
ELGEAR landing gear programme.
- The South West RDA has also provided over £8m of support to the
industry over the past five years through its support of the West
of England Aerospace Forum, in the form of networking, lean
manufacturing and supply-chain initiatives.
Contact Details
Name: Virginia Marsh
Tel: 01392 229548
Email: virginia.marsh@southwestrda.org.uk