Aerospace & Aviation

Heart of the South West Future Aviation Test Zone summary

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iAero Innovation and Collaboration Centre

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South West Aerospace

The Heart of the SW LEP is a key partner in the South West Aerospace cluster, which has global prominence and is essential to driving up the UK’s industrial productivity and excellence. Its purpose is to collaborate to innovate and retain global competitiveness.

Sustainable Aviation

National aerospace strategy is positioning the UK to take advantage of global moves toward cleaner aircraft, as well as to exploit new markets such as electric aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles and urban air mobility. The Heart of the South West, in partnership with neighbouring LEPs through iAero, the SW Aerospace Cluster and the Heart of the SW Sustainable Aviation Cluster, is well placed to support this challenge, being host to key industrial players including the only industry prime in the UK with a complete end-to-end capability in rotary technology. Supporting Build Back Better: We will position the Heart of the South West to take advantage of the global ambition to decarbonise the aerospace and aviation sector, exploiting our strengths in developing new markets in electrical and hydrogen propulsion and maximising digital innovation leading to smart and sustainable solutions. 

We have already achieved notable successes which include:

  • Supporting the 2Zero Future Flight Project to undertake testing of hybrid electric flight at Exeter Airport
  • The launch of our High Potential Opportunity for Smart and Sustainable Flight which in working with DIT will be marketed to a global audience to attract foreign direct inward investment
  • The official opening of the iAero (Yeovil) Innovation Centre. Owned by Somerset Council it is a 2,398 m2 research, design and innovation facility to support the competitiveness and growth of the aerospace and associated high-value design and engineering technology supply chains. The Centre offers high-quality office, light industrial and collaboration space as well as innovation support services. 

Heart of the South West Future Aviation Test Zone

The Heart of the South West is poised to take advantage of the global ambition to decarbonise aircraft. Ensuring that we exploit new markets in electrical and hydrogen propulsion and accelerate opportunities to become the centre for sustainable aviation for regional flights, smart aviation technologies and fuels.

Our Offer

The Heart of the South West is developing a Future Aviation Test Zone that will include integrated mobility with drones, eVTOL air systems, and commercial air traffic. This will be centred around Exeter Airport using existing flight test areas, and the iAero Centre in Yeovil. Exeter is the ideal location as an energy hub, and iAero for its innovation and collaboration facilities.
 
The Heart of the South West, connecting with other assets and capabilities within the region, is the ideal location to trial this infrastructure, for both hydrogen and electric aviation as a ‘living lab demonstrator’.
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Heart of the South West Future Aviation Test Zone
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Smart and Sustainable Aviation High Potential Opportunity

The Heart of the South West LEP, West of England Combined Authority, and Department for International Trade have launched a Smart and Sustainable Aviation High Potential Opportunity for the South West.

The Department for International Trade (DIT) has recognised the South West of England as a High Potential Opportunity (HPO) for the development, demonstration, and adoption of new and emerging aviation technologies.
As a world leader in Smart and Sustainable Aviation, the South West presents an exceptional opportunity for investors to plug into a leading aviation ecosystem, built upon the region’s rich aerospace heritage. The publication of this HPO will highlight the South West as a global destination for aviation business and research, and will be promoted to DIT teams in British Embassies around the world.

The HPO outlines that the South West ecosystem will support companies in creating the markets of the future, bringing to life sophisticated aviation and air mobility products, services and solutions, and enhancing the sustainability of future air transport system technologies. Potential investors are invited to play an instrumental role in the development, demonstration, and adoption of new and emerging aviation and advanced air mobility markets, taking full advantage of electrification, hydrogen, autonomy and disruptive technologies.

HPO proposition

Read the Smart Sustainable Aviation HPO.

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iAero Centre

The iAero Centre is a purpose-built 2,398 square metres research, design and innovation facility in Yeovil, built to support the competitiveness and growth of the aerospace and associated high-value design and engineering technology supply chains. The Centre offers high-quality office, light industrial and collaboration space as well as innovation support services.
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    David Ralph

    Chief Executive

    David Ralph started as Chief Executive of Heart of South West LEP at the beginning of June 2018. Previously, he had spent 5 years as CEO of the Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire (D2N2) LEP from 2013 where he oversaw the development of the D2N2 Strategic Economic Plan and sector strategies, 3 Growth Deals with HM Government to deliver a £1billion capital investment programme, securing and implementing £200m ESIF programme, the Derby and Nottingham Enterprise Zone, the D2N2 Skills Deal and Time for Innovation programme, community fund and led the executive team to develop the HS2 East Midlands hub. He was also closely involved in the proposed North Midlands Devolution Deal and one of the key architects in establishing the Midlands Engine, chairing the officer steering group. Whilst in this role David was a NED of the Nottingham Enterprise Zone, and Marketing NG, the Outer Estates Foundation and a Governor of Nottingham College and on the advisory Board of Nottingham Business School.

    Before the East Midlands, David was CEO of the Have Gateway Partnership working closely with local stakeholders including the ports of Felixstowe, Harwich and Ipswich and BT Adadastral Park across Suffolk and Essex and prior to that was Chief Exec of the Barton Hill New Deal for Communities programme in Bristol and the Nelm Development Trust in Norwich.

    David is a keen sailor, walker and trail runner.