News Release
08 November 2011
GKN Aerospace wins Advanced Manufacturing award
GKN Aerospace has won the prestigious Advanced Manufacturing Award at the Insider
Made in the South West Awards in Bristol tonight (November 8th).
The company, which is located just outside Bristol - at Western Approach, employs over 350
people and has invested £170million in this area since early 2009 - creating an entirely new
composite wing structures manufacturing and assembly facility that opened earlier this year.
Charles Paterson, Vice-President of Business Development and Strategy, GKN Aerospace
Europe & Special Products, said: “These operations are at the heart of our global
aerostructures business and represent an international centre of excellence in wing structure
design and production. They will be key to our drive to take a significant percentage of the
global wing structures market over the next 30 – 40 years.”
Commenting on the importance of making things in the South West he said: “Looking to the
future it is critical we all better appreciate the contribution manufacturing makes to the UK
economy. For our young people, it is vital they are better informed about what a career in
modern, high tech manufacturing has to offer. Schemes such as Made in the South West
really help get these messages across - and do so in a way that has direct relevance for
people locally.
“Winning this award is the icing on the cake for both the management team who has made
such a major, long term commitment to the area, and for our committed and highly skilled
workforce who must respond to the changing needs, demands and challenges of the global
aerospace sector today and in the future.”
Neil Tague, Editor at South West Business Insider which organises the Awards, said: “GKN
is a massive business, but it didn’t win purely on size – it was the quality of the entry that
won the day, detailing the development of the new Western Approach site that is a centre of
excellence in its field.”
A total of six other category winners were announced at the Marriott Hotel.
These include:
Manufacturing Innovation - Ashwoods Automotive (Pinhoe, Exeter)
Aerospace/Defence - Aero Stanrew (Barnstaple)
Exporter of the Year - Avon Metals (Gloucester)
Food and Drink - Thatchers Cider (Sandford, Somerset)
Sustainable Manufacturer - Green Fuels (Stonehouse, Gloucestershire)
Manufacturer of the Year - Burts Chips (Roborough)
Attracting dozens of nominations from companies keen to prove that they are at the forefront
of technology, innovative design and green thinking, the Made in the South West Awards
celebrates the very best of what the region have to offer.
The event was hosted by well known journalist and Points West presenter, Dave Harvey,
with the keynote addresses given by Graham Cole CBE FRAe, Chairman of Agusta
Westland and Bonnie Dean, chief executive of Bristol & Bath Science Park.
Companies shortlisted for the awards were:
Swallowfield (Wellington), Apetito (Trowbridge), Magmatic (Bristol), Omega Engineering
Services (Cheltenham), Supacat (Dunkeswell), Dycem (Bristol), TasteTech (Bristol), Avon
Metals (Gloucester), Quickgrind (Tewkesbury), Hilton Herbs (North Perrott), SFL
(Barnstaple), Sharp’s (Rock), CFH (Radstock), Westaway Sausages (Newton Abbott),
Marshfield Bakery (Dyrham), Wyke Farms (Bruton), Butcombe Brewery (Bristol), Graphic
(Crediton), Gooch & Housego (Ilminster) and Vi Spring (Plymouth).
The Made in the South West Awards were sponsored by Barclays, Foot Anstey, Grant
Thornton, GoIndustry, G4S, TasteTech and University of Bristol.
Ends.
For further information or to discuss interview/ filming opportunities, please contact Marianna
Marks on 079 5869 0659 or email marianna@mandmcomms.com