Burnley continues to show clout when it comes to manufacturing and engineering, with 16 per cent of the borough’s jobs in these sectors.
The North West’s aerospace cluster is the largest in Europe, contributing £7 billion to the UK economy, and Burnley is home to important players including Velocity Composites, Paradigm Precision and Safran Nacelles.
The latest employment and sector figures can be found in a new Invest in Burnley report produced by the borough’s place brand, Burnley.co.uk.
It explains how the borough is home to an impressive 6,000 manufacturing and engineering employees, is first in the country for the percentage of jobs made up by manufacturing and that The University of Lancashire – which has a growing Burnley campus – is in the UK’s top 20 for aerospace and aeronautical engineering.
Adam Patterson, strategy director at Safran Nacelles, said: “Burnley has a strong heritage in engineering and manufacturing, and is positioned in one of the world’s largest aerospace clusters.
"This history ensures we have a robust talent pool to support our business.
“The pride of the people in Burnley is reflected in the passion that our workforce has for our products, which are contributing to thousands of safe flights around the world every single day.”
Kate Ingram, director of economy and development at Burnley Council, said: “We are proud to host an array of renowned manufacturing and engineering companies, many of whom are at the forefront of digital innovation, taking the sector forward.
“Our popularity with big names in these sectors – attracted by our competitive costs and convenient logistics – are just two of many reasons why one of our newest sites is currently being developed – Advance Point.
"Developed by Barnfield Construction, the site on Rossendale Road provides 22 modern industrial units, ranging from 2,000 to 10,500 sq ft, and builds upon the success of the neighbouring Rossendale Road Industrial Estate.”
Other impressive Burnley organisations in this sector include AMS Neve, BCW, and Hycaero, to name but a few.
Enjoyed this? Read more from Rob Kelly