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Last week marked our first cluster meeting as ADS South West, bringing 60+ members together for a productive morning of collaboration and networking.
We kicked off with arrival informal networking, followed by a warm welcome from Lee Bruce, who set the scene with updates and priorities for the ADS Regions team.
“I was delighted to meet with our members to discuss the opportunities to promote the vital role ADS sectors play in the South West generating growth, jobs and the innovative technologies of the future. Ensuring that at ADS we continue to champion the regional capabilities of the South West across governments and with other partners from industry and academia will be key as we look forward to Farnborough International Airshow and the delivery of industrial strategies.”
Lee Bruce – ADS Director of External Affairs for Regions
A highlight of the morning was an engaging presentation from David Arthurton of Anduril, who shared an overview of the company’s strategy, products, and ambitions within the UK. This sparked a lively Q&A session, with attendees exploring opportunities and implications for the regional ecosystem.
We then heard from David Brodie of GKN Aerospace, who provided a valuable overview of GKN’s capabilities, particularly around innovation through the Global Technology Centre. His presentation highlighted the importance of collaboration in advancing aerospace capabilities.
After a short networking break, we welcomed new members AmSafe Bridport, Nodica Group, and PKF Francis Clark, who introduced their organisations and outlined how they are looking to engage with the cluster.
The final presentation from Andrew Chadwick focused on the South West Future Flight Innovation Zone, offering an exciting look at developments and opportunities in advanced air mobility and regional innovation.
Member feedback:
“The recent Bristol and Bath Cluster meeting at GKN Aerospace provided an invaluable opportunity to both engage and network with key players both up and down the supply chain in a positive and collaborative space.”
“A great start for ADS-SW, the Bristol cluster meeting was well organised and a good networking opportunity with strong representation across the industrial sectors.”
A big thank you to GKN Aerospace for hosting us at the Global Technology Centre (GTC), and to Anduril for sponsoring the refreshments. It was fantastic to connect with members, both old and new, and we look forward to a busy and exciting summer ahead.
