Aerospace supply chain may be helped by government money

Leading supplier Rolls Royce will be involved in an investment programme totalling £40m that aims to strengthen the supply chain for the aero-engine industry and accelerate the development and introduction of low carbon aircraft engine technology. 

The programme, which is called Strategic Affordable Manufacturing in the UK with Leading Environmental Technology (SAMULET), is part of the government's Advanced Manufacturing package which was flagged in the Budget earlier in the year.

"It is good the government is recognising the value of advanced manufacturing, and we hope this package of measures will spur the development of the UK's hi-tech base," said
Tim Bradshaw, the CBI's Head of Enterprise and Innovation.

The SAMULET collaborative programme between industry and universities will be led by Rolls Royce in a consortium of manufacturers, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and several of the UK's top universities.

It will be linked with the advanced manufacturing research centres in Sheffield, Glasgow, and Antsy, near Coventry.

The Technology Strategy Board is investing £28.5m in the programme and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), £11.5m. Further support is under discussion with regional bodies.

The total cost of the project including industry investment is expected to be around £90m.

According to chief executive of the Technology Strategy Board, Iain Gray: "SAMULET aims to ensure that the UK aero-engine industry remains competitive in the face of new 2020 emissions targets for aircraft and that it is in a position to manufacture engines for the next generation of civil aircraft."

"As well as being great news for the individual firms that stand to benefit from the investments announced today, there are some worthwhile measures to support companies operating in other high value manufacturing areas from aero engines to low-carbon technologies," added Bradshaw.