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National Aerospace Communities Alliance is Launched

Wednesday, 14 October 2009 14:33

The ACA is a local authority-led body that will champion the UK aerospace industry - the UK has over 113,000 workers employed in its aerospace industries. The ACA’s overarching aim is to provide a co-ordinated voice for communities that are particularly dependent on aerospace companies and their supply chains, to retain and grow the aerospace sector within local areas. It aims to add value to existing industry lobbying and support structures by directly representing the communities that it represents.

The alliance is currently chaired by Councillor Hilary Jones, Leader of Derby City Council, and has received support from local authorities across the country as well as from industry representatives such as Midlands Aerospace Alliance, SBAC, Rolls-Royce and Airbus UK.

Partners representing Lancashire at the launch will be Councillor Gordon Birtwistle and Steve Rumbelow, Chief Executive of Burnley Borough Council, Councillor John David and Stephen Barnes, Chief Executive of Pendle Borough Council, Councillor Albert Pounder and Phil Woodward, Chief Executive of Fylde Borough Council, Anne Ainsworth from Lancashire County Council and Steven Szostak from Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council.  Lorna Campbell-Cassidy will also attend from the Northwest Aerospace Alliance.

The launch event is an opportunity to raise the profile of the ACA with the Government, industry representatives and the national media.  Ian Lucas MP, Minister for Business and Regulatory Reform, and Bob Laxton MP will be attending, along with Alex Dorrian, President of SBAC and UK CEO of Thales.  Conservative MP, Mark Prisk, and Liberal Democrat MP, Lorely Burt will also be in attendance.

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NOTES FOR NEWS EDITORS

The ACA aims to:

• Bring together local authorities whose economies and communities are particularly dependent on aerospace companies and their supply chains.
• Support the retention and growth of employment in the aerospace sector with a particular focus on:
  • Education, skills and demographics
  • Research and technology support
  • Transport and infrastructure
  • Planning and development
• Lobby on behalf of the aerospace sector-based communities and economies at regional and national levels (including with government, Members of Parliament and the media) as well as on a European and international basis.
• Facilitate the exchange of best practice between areas including liaison with Universities.
• Work with aerospace companies and workforce and their representative sector groups in achieving the above objectives.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Chris Pook
Economic Regeneration Strategy Manager
01332 641623
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Derby City Council

Janet Barton
Director of Strategic Planning and Development
01254 300465
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Lancashire Economic Partnership