Cluster Mark for NWAA

Posted by: David Bailey Category: NWAA news Date: Wednesday, March 24, 2010

THE NWAA has been named one of the Government’s top business cluster support organisations in the country.

The NWAA won a national Cluster Mark award, given by the Department for Business Innovation and Skills to just four cluster organisations at a ceremony in London.

The NWAA won this national stage of the Cluster Mark awards after lifting a regional award earlier this year, along with the North West Biomedical cluster.

Judges at the regional level noted that, among other factors, the NWAA’s application ‘gave evidence of the creation of jobs and collaboration as a result of cluster activity.’

Along with the NWAA, North West Biomedical cluster, a seafood cluster in Humberside and a life and healthcare cluster organisation in the East of the country were also honoured with an award.

Figures show that in 2006, UK aerospace boasted a turnover of £19.8 billion, with the North West accounting for £6.3 billion of this total, making it a key region.

Martin Wright, chief executive of the NWAA, said: “On behalf of the NWAA, I would like to express my thanks to all our staff, partner companies and industry bodies who continue to support us.

“This award recognises the importance of the work being conducted in the advanced manufacturing sector in the North West and we take that as a huge compliment.”

Clusters are described as ‘geographic concentrations of inter-connection companies, specialised suppliers, service providers, firms in related industries and associated institutions.’

The Cluster Mark awards were established by the Government’s Manufacturing Strategy in 2008 and are intended to raise the profile of manufacturers involved in the best clusters and support international marketing of local strengths.

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Scott lands key NWAA role

Posted by: David Bailey Category: NWAA news Date: Friday, March 19, 2010

Scott Bairstow has joined the NWAA as project director to oversee one of the group’s most influential programmes.

Scott was formerly the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) business development manager for the aerospace sector.

In his new role he will head up the ASCE 2 (Aerospace Supply Chain Excellence) Programme team at the NWAA’s recently opened Preston office, overseeing a team of 17 people.

Scott spent more than three years with the NWDA, building long-term relationships with key decision makers in the North West, and working closely with the NWAA. Prior to joining the NWAA, Scott had spent 14 years in the textile industry.

He said: “I had a good background to the ASCE 2 project at the agency and seeing it through as part of the team is very exciting. Our benchmarking has shown us that there isn’t anything else like this in the world.”

Scott also feels that manufacturing is slowly becoming recognised as key to the economy. He said: “There is a recognition that manufacturing is a priority. It has been given a lot more support thanks to the belief that there is a need to have a balanced economy, and it really bodes well for manufacturing as a whole, and also for aerospace.”

Martin Wright, chief executive of the NWAA, added: “As the head of ASCE 2, Scott will be responsible for heading up one of our most important programmes, and we needed someone who knows the industry.

“Scott brings with him a thorough understanding of both the work of the NWAA and the economic environment in which we work, something which is vital for us.”

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Financial Times reports ‘flag is still flying’ in North West aerospace sector

Posted by: David Bailey Category: NWAA news Date: Wednesday, March 3, 2010

The Financial Times has published a special report into manufacturing in the North West of England.

A key article in this supplement is a review of the aerospace sector.

The FT’s Northern correspondent Andy Bounds spoke to Dr David Bailey (operations director for the NWAA) along with Andrew White (NWAA director and managing director of Aircelle), Nigel Blenkinsop (head of aircraft manufacturing at BAE) and Mike Haworth (managing director of Brookhouse Composites, an NWAA member).

The positive report says that ‘the sector is defying financial gravity.’

Click here to see the article online.

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