Commenting on business minister Alok Sharma’s announcement of
£200 million worth of grants for the aerospace industry today
(Monday 20 July), Unite national officer Rhys McCarthy said:
“These grants through the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI)
will bring some support for wing, engine, power and cabin systems
development. But while these grants offer a 50/50 investment
split with industry, in France and Germany the R&D ratio is
80 per cent from government and 20 per cent from industry.
“Compared to the overall levels of assistance provided by our
European neighbours for their aerospace industries, which have
also been badly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, is it clear
that UK ministers are not doing enough.
“The UK still does not have an in-depth strategy of support that
countries such as France, Germany and the US have put in place.
“Unlike France, Germany, Spain and The Netherlands, we are
lacking a government aircraft replacement scheme to stimulate the
aerospace industry and get more environmentally friendly planes
in the sky.
“The German government has also recognised the need to provide
flexible support, including short time working for aerospace jobs
to stop redundancies, retain skills and protect the economy. The
UK government has yet to put forward any such measures for when
the furlough scheme ends in October.
“Nor have ministers established an aerospace investment fund to
support our domestic supply chain, like the French government has
done.
“UK aerospace workers and companies are crying out for a bold
strategy of support for our best in class aerospace industry, a
sector that with the right support will repay back into local,
regional and national UK economies over and over again.”
