## Scotland’s Aerospace and Defence Sector Demands Strategic Government Investment
Scotland’s aerospace and defence industry leaders have issued a powerful call for enhanced public sector engagement and sustained government support, emphasizing that the vitality of future jobs and specialized skills hinges on proactive commitment from national authorities. This critical message emerged from a recent session of the Scottish Affairs Committee, where key industry figures presented their long-term vision for the sector.
### A Unified Plea: Safeguarding Capacity and Cultivating Growth
Appearing before the committee on January 20th, Andrew Kinniburgh, Director-General of Make UK Defence, and Warrick Malcolm, Director at ADS Scotland, articulated their concerns regarding the sustained health and future trajectory of Scotland’s aerospace capabilities. Their testimony underscored the urgent need to bolster industrial capacity, diligently protect invaluable specialist skills, and aggressively pursue inward investment opportunities to ensure the sector’s resilience and expansion.
## AERALIS’s Prestwick Vision: A Catalyst for Regional Prosperity
A compelling example of Scotland’s existing prowess was brought to the forefront: AERALIS. This innovative company has identified Prestwick Airport as the prospective site for its UK final assembly line, dedicated to producing its next-generation advanced trainer aircraft. This strategic decision carries profound implications for both employment generation and the retention of critical skills within the region.
### Nurturing a Supportive Business Environment
Kinniburgh conveyed to Members of Parliament that AERALIS currently experiences robust local encouragement. However, he stressed the necessity for more decisive action at the devolved level, stating, “they do feel welcome at the moment, by the Scottish Government and by the local MPs who have given incredible support to them, but we need to encourage the Scottish Government to make sure it is a welcome that they get.” He further highlighted Prestwick’s significant potential, describing it as “a fantastic example of a highly skilled workforce who are already there and could be busier,” projecting that the AERALIS initiative could “create hundreds of new jobs at Prestwick.”
### Forging Stronger Links: Education Meets Industry
The committee also heard about the broader collaborative framework supporting the proposed AERALIS programme. This includes crucial partnerships with Ayrshire College and extensive engagement across the local community. Kinniburgh lauded this integrated approach, telling MPs, “It’s fantastic that the local college is so integrated with local business which is exactly what we need from an industrial perspective.” He further underscored the historic significance of the AERALIS project, noting it would involve the “design and build whole aircraft, not just for the first time in Scotland for many years, but the first time in the UK for about fifty years.”
## Ayrshire: A Strategic Hub for Aerospace Innovation
Echoing the sentiment of the region’s inherent strengths, Malcolm affirmed the pivotal role of Ayrshire’s established industrial foundation, proudly referring to it as “one of the jewels in the crown for our sector in Scotland.” This collective testimony paints a clear picture: with targeted governmental backing, Scotland’s aerospace and defence sector, particularly in vibrant hubs like Ayrshire, is poised for a future of significant growth and global leadership.