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.