APM survey shows growth of Aerospace and Defence sector across East Midlands

The latest Salary and Market Trends Survey 2017 highlights noticeable growth for those operating across the aerospace and defence sector in the East Midlands, with growth reported at six per cent since 2016.

Run in collaboration with Wellingtone Project Management and hosted by YouGov, the APM Salary and Market Trends survey backs the view of the sector’s prominent body, the Midlands Aerospace Alliance.

Commenting on the growth in the region a spokesman for the Midlands Aerospace alliance said:

“The average figures for our alliance shows 6-8 per cent growth, recently we have seen turnover grow seven per cent and growth value added increase by 8 per cent. However employment is relatively flat line. What this means is that we are seeing a shift from the growth in shop floor workers to investment in more project and programme-based work.”

While positive news, the profession now faces the challenge of supplying a pipeline fit to support the growth of industry giants in the region who are demanding more skilled workers.

With 79 per cent of respondents from the East Midlands expecting their organisations to require more roles involving project management between now and 2020, the profession must act quickly.

For Boeing, who is opening its next large facility in a neighbouring region in 2018, apprentices are already undergoing training to provide a skilled workforce at the site. However it is expected its opening shall result in a halo effect across the supply chain.

In 2016 Boeing’s ongoing growth resulted in £2bn direct spending the UK supply chain resulting in tier one supply chain jobs growing by 80 per cent.

The UK’s recently launched industrial strategy too places the need for a developing skills across the UK to support business and promote the benefit of promoting STEM subjects.

While more must be done to drive the forecast growth, it is comforting to see a reported five per cent rise from 2016 to 2017 of project managers operating in the East Midlands in the first five years of their project management career, signalling a potential lift in the profession’s pipeline.