The aerospace, defence and marine sectors employ over 22 000 people and support the jobs of a further 30 000 people within Scotland, according to Scottish Enterprise, Scotland’s main enterprise, innovation and investment agency.
The strategy aims to encourage greater collaboration between the public, private and academic sectors, increase research and development activity, particularly involving Scotland’s small to medium sized enterprise sector, and to further develop the industry’s skilled workforce.
The launch of the aerospace, defence and marine strategy at Prestwick coincided with the opening of two new aerospace composites facilities by Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond:
- Spirit AeroSystems, headquartered in the USA, opened a research and development centre for the development of composite products and manufacturing methods. This new Composite Development Centre in Prestwick will create or secure more than 50 jobs.
- Slingsby Advanced Composites, headquartered in Yorkshire, UK, opened a new composites design and manufacturing facility in Prestwick, which will create nearly 30 new jobs.
Scotland's aerospace, defence and marine industries
- The Scottish aerospace sector comprised almost 7% of the total UK turnover of £19.4 billion in 2007.
- The UK shipbuilding sector has an annual turnover of almost £2.5 billion, with Scotland accounting for 33% of this.
- Scottish Enterprise estimates more than 400 companies are operating within these sector in Scotland, employing over 22 000 people.
- Nine Scottish universities are directly involved with relevant industry research.
