______________________ Velocity
Composites
he was so impressive that I took him on as an advanced apprentice when a position became available at Velocity,” he continues.
In terms of recent projects, Velocity has won a significant renewal and expansion contract with an Airbus supplier, which is not only a great endorsement for the company but for the British manufacturing industry as a whole.“ We’ ve been awarded a significant contract that requires us to service the-900 and-1000 programs for the A350 platform, including additional sub packages. We are incredibly proud of this achievement as it helps maintain employment within the UK in this important sector. There has been an ever-evolving trend in our industry where much of the work is being relocated to lower cost manufacturing overseas, posing significant challenges for UK-based operations. Our continued investment in people, processes, and technology allows us to remain competitive in a global market and support our customers in ensuring that work remains in the UK.
“ Historically, in my career I have seen a cyclical pattern where work can move away and then return, often because overseas manufacturers struggle to cope with the demand and technical requirements. It is an interesting topic as both the civil aerospace and defense sectors are growing within the composites sector, and aviation is on an upward trajectory due to growth and continued rate recovery. However, this growth has not yet fully reached the SME market in the same way it has benefited larger OEMs, and I believe it is crucial for this positive trend to cascade down to SMEs within the UK and for the SMEs to be ready. This contract award is a sign that confidence is growing, and as there are opportunities emerging, we must ensure that we are prepared to retain this work within the UK,” Oliver ends. ■
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