Hello and welcome to our first International Innovation Review special edition of Aerospace Manufacturing. This digital-only publication looks back at the most interesting stories we’ve published throughout 2023 – groundbreaking feats of engineering that highlight the most cutting-edge technological innovations within our industry.

The latest advanced materials, increasing use of automation and digitalisation, sustainable aviation fuel, hydrogen power and environmental initiatives means technology breakthroughs happen nearly as regularly as flights in and out of our busiest airports. It continues to demonstrate that the industry is a hotbed for continually evolving innovative product designs, full of creative people thinking not only of the here and now, but of the aircraft of tomorrow.

I’m always impressed by the way our industry strives to preserve something it’s worked so hard to create, namely the aerospace supply chain. Meanwhile, Government efforts to boost business investment is always welcome. The Chancellor of the Exchequer recently confirmed the allocation of £975 million to long-term aerospace as part of a wider package of support for advanced manufacturing.

Yes, there is a growing concern that a gap is slowly emerging between traditional engineering skills and those needed to support burgeoning new technologies. So, how can we bridge this gap? The major aerospace OEMs don’t have all the answers so our supply chains need to come forward with new skills that will help them reduce cost. This all depends on whether the supply chain can satisfy the demand for re-skilling and support future innovative technologies.

It’s clear that an overhaul of the aerospace supply chain is required to re-educate and re-skill our industry’s workforce. There are always concerns that finance will be a major issue among SMEs, but it’s worth remembering that if you think that the cost of change is expensive - try the cost of ignorance.