Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has praised Bristol for its advanced manufacturing and said the city is playing a key role in the future of the sector in Britain.
Touring GKN Aerospace’s new £250m manufacturing site at Severnside, which makes wing parts for Airbus’s pioneering A350 and A400M aircraft, Mr Clegg said Bristol was key to the growth of UK manufacturing.
The plant has created nearly 300 jobs, including a number of apprenticeships.
Mr Clegg, who was accompanied by Business Secretary Vince Cable, went on to announce a £1bn boost for UK manufacturing at a special manufacturing summit staged at the Bristol & Bath Science Park.
Chief executive Bonnie Dean today welcomed the Government’s commitment to manufacturing and the fact that the high-powered summit is being staged at the park.
She said: “As a Science City, Bristol has been recognised for the quality and diversity of its science and research base.
“Today’s national conference showcases the region’s strengths by focusing on the South West’s businesses who have taken considerable commercial risk to turn original research into sophisticated manufactured products sold nationally and exported internationally.
“The opening of the Science Park in late September last year is part of a long term objective to create a place for industry, academia and government to collaborate and to accelerate the commercialisation of those collaborations.”
