NEWS RELEASE
Issued: Monday 25 January 2010
Our reference: A|D|S PR 2010 005
Embargoed until: 0001 Tuesday 26 January 2010
INDUSTRY CELEBRATES £60BN CONTRIBUTION TO UK ECONOMIC WELL-BEING AS NEW BOOK & FILM PUBLISHED
Formal launch of trade organisation marked by study of sector's jobs and financial success
A|D|S, the UK's AeroSpace, Defence and Security trade organisation today (Tuesday) marked its formal launch by publishing a new book and video highlighting the hugely positive impact that the industry makes in the form of £60 billion per year to the economy and 500,000 high-quality British jobs across all regions of the country. With contributions from senior industrialists and politicians these publications seek to inform the UK of the crucial nature and exciting future that the sectors offer.
The formal launch of A|D|S will be marked at a private gala dinner at a central London location tonight to be attended by political figures, senior industry executives and members of the armed forces. The book and video will debut at the dinner before being used at future public events, including the Farnborough International Airshow in July.
Ian Godden, Chairman of A|D|S, said:
“Our industry sectors are Europe's number one and are second only to the US globally. We employ around 500,000 people across the UK and generate around £60 billion per year to the UK economy and £25 billion in exports. Our industry will help re-balance the economy away from its dependence on financial services to deliver a more sustainable future for Britain.
“We offer an exciting future for the UK's bright young minds and for the economy as a whole as we spearhead the recovery from the recession. Whether it be creating new technologies to support our armed forces and security authorities to keep us safe or delivering innovation to reduce still further the emissions from aircraft and support everyday activities or disaster relief from space our industry is a jewel in the crown of UK manufacturing and services.
“Despite the current economic downturn, in which we are all suffering, we are not seeking to ask what the country can do for us. Instead we are fighting through the recession, celebrating our successes and demonstrating what we can do for every Briton individually and the country as a whole.”
Industry facts:
* Civil Aerospace – 100,000 people work in the sector, which generates £20 billion per annum and enjoys a 17 per cent global market share.
* Defence – employs 300,000 people across all regions of the UK, turns over more than £35 billion a year and has 10 per cent of the global defence market.
* Security – employs around 600,000 people in total in the UK and the diverse national security budget is worth an estimated £43 billion.
* Space – supports 70,000 UK jobs, and generates £7 billion per year to the UK economy.
From Wednesday 27 January 2010 the book will be available as an e-version at www.adsgroup.org.uk/book and the video will be available at www.adsgroup.org.uk/video.
ENDS
For more information please see the press release and photo of Ian Godden below.