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. Summary facts
There are over 150 aerospace-related companies currently operating in Wales, employing around 20,000 people. Wales has a 40% share of the UK’s MRO market and employs around 9,000 people.About $1 billion was invested in the Welsh aerospace sector in 2003. Wales now generates 10% of the UK's aerospace output, amounting to almost £2 billion in sales per annum.Wales is home to six of the biggest aerospace companies in the world - Airbus, BAE systems, General Dynamics, General Electric, Raytheon and Thales. The Aerospace Wales Forum (AWF) represents and provides a voice for companies within the sector. Working closely with the WDA and Wales Trade International, the AWF is dedicated to protecting the interest of the sector in the global marketplace. In September 2003 Cardiff hosted the MRO Europe forum, the most prestigious aerospace event of its kind. The arrival of the forum in Wales was a direct result of four years worth of campaigning by the WDA and the Welsh Assembly, and is a testament to their commitment to the future of the sector. Over a thousand key industry delegates from around the globe attended the Conference to discuss safety issues and business opportunities.Wales is fast developing a network of air links, asphalt and information highways. With new initiatives such as the Welsh Assembly Government-funded Broadband Wales, all regions of Wales are opened up to the aerospace industry at home and abroad. |
