Advanced Engineering and Manufacturing

Overview

The AEM Business Group works in close partnership with the West of England Aerospace Forum (WEAF), the leading trade association for aerospace, defence, and advanced manufacturing in the South West. This collaboration strengthens Gloucestershire’s position as a hub for innovation by aligning local business needs with regional and national aerospace priorities. Through joint initiatives, networking events, and skills development programmes, the partnership ensures that the voice of Gloucestershire’s advanced engineering and manufacturing sector is heard, while also supporting supply chain growth, inward investment, and the adoption of cutting-edge technologies.

Purpose

1. To ensure the necessary talents and capabilities are developed and retained within the county, avoiding skills seepage.
2. To support the business consultation on the Local Growth Plan and ensure the business voice is represented in discussions on Local Government Reorganisation and Devolution.

Terms of Reference

• Focus on identifying industry specific skills gaps: to work with employment and skills teams to support businesses in filling these.
• Promote and support STEM activity join-up between businesses, education, employment, and training providers to inspire future generations.
• Work collaboratively with other business sectors, to identify mutual challenges, and to combine efforts to address these.
• To support the Inward Investment proposition, Local Growth Plan, and to fly the flag for Gloucestershire as a future leader of digitally enabled advanced manufacturing technologies.