Watchtower looks to the future

Andrew Schofield of the North West Aerospace Alliance (NWAA) explains the £1m Watchtower initiative in one sentence: “We are trying to keep Lancashire ahead of the game”.

Launched earlier this year, the pioneering programme is looking to support development and growth in the vitally important aerospace and advanced engineering and manufacturing industries across the county.

Born out of the Covid-19 pandemic and the huge damage it inflicted, Watchtower is a collaboration between Lancashire County Council and NWAA and includes big hitters such as BAE Systems, Safran Nacelles and Rolls-Royce.

There are several strands to the project. It will use local industry knowledge to support aerospace suppliers as they stabilise, recover, and grow following the Covid-19 pandemic.

Additionally, it aims to identify organisations that will benefit the most from “tailored, coordinated business support” and help them access the right type for them.

The two-year programme also includes an intelligence function to identify and protect Lancashire’s key aerospace assets and businesses.

There will be a talent retention service to help people who have lost skilled jobs in aerospace to find new work. Diversification is also part of the brief.

Support will be there for businesses to find new contracts which fit their manufacturing capabilities both nationally and internationally. They will also get help to innovate and develop new products or ways of working.

On top of that, a campaign will reinforce the message that Lancashire is a “perfect location” for aerospace and advanced manufacturing businesses looking for somewhere where they can grow.

The funding is part of the county council’s £12.8m Lancashire Economic Recovery and Growth Fund – specifically targeting some of the economic impacts of Covid-19.

At its launch earlier this year, Aidy Riggott, cabinet member for economic development and growth, explained: “We want to support AEM businesses to be competitive, innovative and financially sound to ensure they can successfully recover from the pandemic and thrive.

“The county council’s financial contribution will support 40 aerospace supply chain SMEs, help safeguard and create 200 jobs, and bring in £30m of revenue into the county.”

Addison Precision in Thornton-Cleveleys hosted the launch. Mark Verdon, managing director of the engineering company, said: “The past two years have been extremely challenging to the aerospace sector, and we have had to adapt and diversify our operations further to accommodate these challenges.

“This has led us in some interesting directions and processes as we look to the future, and this is something we have to continue to  explore. The Watchtower project looks like it will provide some much welcome support for us in this endeavour.”

Professor Schofield, who became chair of NWAA earlier this year, believes the two-year project will act as a catalyst to inspire growth and investment and is just the beginning.

He says: “We are hoping Watchtower starts a journey that will really strengthen Lancashire’s ability to respond to changes in technology. The agenda is going to continue way into the future, the issues are not going to go away.

“We are looking at what we can build on in Lancashire to make sure that investment and employment takes place here.

“We have to make sure that key decision makers in the UK and in industry really understand what’s happening in Lancashire, the components we have and why they should both be investing here.”

A big part of Watchtower’s brief is to look at advancements in technology and the processes needed to support and grow businesses.

Andrew says that one of the challenges is to show that major Lancashire assets such as the AMRC North West and its highly rated universities are not there just for the big companies but can help its SMEs improve their productivity and grow.

Paula Gill, who became chief executive of NWAA in April, also believes engaging with the supply chain will be vital for the success of the programme. She adds: “The development of technologies also runs alongside the development of skills in the sector and that is really important.”

David Bailey, a former chief executive of NWAA, is heavily involved in Watchtower though his support company Aerospace Consulting. His organisation was brought in  as part of an aerospace task force created in the wake of Covid, which triggered a massive downturn in the civil sector. Watchtower has grown out of that.

He says: “It became obvious early on that something needed to be done. While initially we looked at aerospace it was felt something was needed across all advanced manufacturing and engineering.

“What is important about Watchtower is that it is helping us to prepare for what new technologies and what new programmes come next.”

He says: “Getting Lancashire companies to work with Lancashire centres of excellence to get an economic benefit has to be the right thing to do.

“The Watchtower programme is about helping companies identify the right organisations, programmes, project and services that can support them and are really going to help them move forward with their businesses.

“All this is important because Lancashire is at the heart of the largest manufacturing region in the UK.”