Advanced Manufacturing
England's Northwest is at the forefront of investment in advanced engineering and materials in the UK, with regional expertise that encompasses aerospace, automotive, chemicals and advanced flexible materials.
Internationally renowned for our pivotal role in the aerospace industry, the Northwest is responsible for developing over 100 types of aircraft. Over 800 aerospace companies, including BAE Systems, contribute £7 billion per year to the local economy - a third of the UK's entire GVA in the aerospace sector. The industry's regional heartland, Lancashire, is the UK's largest centre of aerospace manufacturing and production, employing more skilled people and generating greater overseas income than in any other region.
Similarly, England's Northwest is the UK's largest centre for the chemicals industry, a sector which generates £10 billion in sales every year, more than any other sector in the region. More than 43,000 highly skilled workers are directly employed in chemicals processing, with a further 120,000 jobs in related industries. Around 60% of the world's Top 50 chemicals companies have a major operations centre in the Northwest.
Out on the road, the automotive sector is stepping up a gear: 450 automotive companies, 200 of which are major automotive supply chain companies, employ 43,000 people and generate an annual turnover of £9 billion. It is estimated that our automotive industry exports 60% of its products - twice the national average.
Major players include Jaguar/ Land Rover in Liverpool, one of Ford's highest performing plants worldwide, Vauxhall in Ellesmere Port, and Bentley Motors in Cheshire. Sixty years after the first Bentley rolled off the production line, the factory in Crewe now turns out close to its capacity of 10,000 cars per year. Sales exceed £800 million and the workforce has doubled to over 4,000 during the last five years.
The Northwest is also a pioneer in advanced textiles. One hundred and fifty years ago, the region supplied the world with cotton. Today, that proud heritage has been transformed into market leading expertise in fast-growing, highly specialised textiles, such as Advanced Flexible Materials (AFM). Indeed, the Northwest is recognised as the European leader in AFM.
