Building a resilient aerospace supply chain

Around 200 professionals from every tier of the aerospace industry gathered to hear experts' perspectives on some key opportunities and critical challenges for aerospace in the Midlands at the 2025 MAA Conference.

Taking place on 26th March 2025 in the spectacular surroundings of the RAF Museum Midlands, Cosford, the event was packed with presentations from industry experts across three dynamic sessions covering topics that are crucial to aerospace businesses right now.

Aircraft production rate increases

The first session kicked off with insights from the latest Global Aerospace Outlook delivered by Clive Lewis, Managing Director, Achieving the Difference (and MAA Technology Manager). Clive partnered with ADS to produce the report, which showed that GDP growth of 2.6% is driving demand for passenger travel, which is expected to increase to 4.3%, with cargo traffic also expecting growth of 3.6%. He then delved deeper into a variety of findings in the report and what these mean for the aerospace supply chain.

Beth Owen, Head of Logistics and Transport, Airbus, and Director North West Aerospace Alliance, showcased Airbus' strong order book across aerospace, defence and space now that customer demand has returned, with two years of record orders. She also gave an overview of the company’s extensive supply base. For example, 30% of Airbus’ suppliers in the UK are SMEs, and there are 8,700 suppliers on the A320 programme alone. She outlined some of the supply challenges impacting the ramp-up of output toward the “rate 75” ambition on the single aisle aircraft, emphasising the importance of supply chain resilience and quality.

Elizabeth Williams, Head of Aviation, Aerospace and Defence, Gowling WLG, highlighted the scale of the aerospace industry in the UK, which sustains over 100,000 jobs and is crucial for global economic growth. She also underlined why notwithstanding the current focus on growth, it is still important to keep striving toward net zero ambitions. She emphasised the relevance of legal considerations for aerospace suppliers such as optimising commercial terms to obtain maximum value from contracts in a competitive sector, as well as how vital it is to protect intellectual property.

Supply chain risk and resilience

The second session moved the discussion on to a deep dive into supply chain risk and resilience, looking at both Tier 1 and manufacturer perspectives before gaining insights on possible finance and skills barriers facing companies. Lisa Charlesworth, Head of Fan and Combustion Systems Operating Unit, ITP Aero UK, opened the session with an overview of the key supply chain challenges encompassing people, processes, customers, and regulations, then outlined potential solutions her company is investing in. She emphasised the criticality of collaboration across the industry in making them happen.

Simon Ward, Chairman, Accrofab Group, followed with an insightful Tier 2 manufacturer perspective, demonstrating that the ramp-up journey is far from a linear path. He shared lessons learned from Accrofab and the key things suppliers require to be part of the solution, with a call to OEMs and Tier 1s to involve lower-tier companies earlier in the product design process as they have substantial knowledge of what is possible when it comes to manufacturability.

Andrew Brough, Director – Aerospace & Defence, Siemens Avanta, then looked ahead to the business opportunities relating to both current rate increases and possible new aircraft programmes before exploring challenges the UK supply chain is facing when it comes to capitalising on these from a financial investment viewpoint, and proposed options for what could be done.

Chris Weir, Chief Technology Officer, MAA, turned to recruitment and skills, another area of concern for the aerospace supply chain. He reported on early findings from the MAA’s work on people challenges facing member companies. There were also opportunities for delegates to share their skills-related issues and solutions at the event to contribute to the research.

With many supply chain business that could benefit from support, Lynne Avery, Delivery Manager, Business Growth West Midlands (part of the West Midlands Combined Authority), shared how the organisation helps businesses on their growth journeys and enables them to access the support that is available, including its investment readiness programme.

Working together to address industry challenges

Richard Parker, Mayor of the Midlands joined the MAA Conference at lunchtime, and took the opportunity to meet with delegates and exhibitors. He took to the stage for a conversation with Andrew Mair, MAA Chief Executive, speaking about the importance of aerospace to the region, the need to create more high-value jobs, and to invest in skills. The Mayor underlined his commitment to attracting investment into the region and promoting the aerospace industry. He also spoke passionately about his flagship Youth Employment Plan, which aims to create 20,000 learning and work opportunities for young people.

Meaghan Preece, Hydromechanical Engineer, Moog, then shared her experience of the impact of the company’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, focusing on the importance of increasing female representation as she chairs WREN (Women's Resource & Equity Network). WREN is an employee resource group at Moog dedicated to improving female representation and leadership at all levels of the business. These groups support with professional development, feelings of inclusions, broader understanding, community engagement, and hiring diverse talent. Meaghan emphasised that DEI should not simply be about checking boxes and can have measurable benefits for companies. According to statistics she shared, executive teams with gender diversity have an 80% greater ability to adapt than competitors and businesses that champion gender diversity are 25% more likely to have higher-than-average profitability.

Bertie Bertolaso, who volunteers for the RAF Air Cadets National Air & Space Camp, gave an inspirational presentation about how they are developing future talent in air, space and cyber. He shared the 2040 vision for providing innovative and inclusive life-enhancing experiences for young people and encouraged aerospace companies to get involved as it could help encourage the next generation into STEM careers, vital for the future of skills.

Alice Hignett, Project Manager for The Aerospace Growth Partnership, provided an overview of one of the national industry-government body’s initiatives, led by the Manufacturing and Supply Chain Working Group to help all tiers of the industry work collaboratively to address supply chain resilience, the key deliverables, and how companies can get involved. There will be a workshop on the subject for MAA members in Birmingham on 1st May that will follow up many conference themes.

Finally, Chris Weir returned to the stage to give insights into the regional strategy for the Midlands aerospace cluster that the MAA is developing, and how it fits with the national technology strategy developed by the Aerospace Technology Institute. The strategy’s framework encompasses economic and environmental sustainability drivers, goals around operational transformation, a net zero Midlands cluster and jet zero aviation, as well as solutions and enablers.

From the moment the doors to the MAA Conference opened until it was time to depart, there were also many networking opportunities, giving delegates the chance to strengthen existing connections and expand their industry networks.

In addition, joining us on the day were several apprentices and early careers colleagues from both Collins Aerospace and Parker Meggitt, who benefitted from our early careers bursary.

Thanks to everyone who joined the MAA Conference, all the speakers and the event partners who helped make the event happen, including FineCal Group, Gowling WLG, Intelligent Energy, LAUDA, M.A. Ford, MJ Sections, SJR Partners, West Midlands Combined Authority, Tungaloy-NTK, and Vectis Recruitment.