WATCH: Business Board’s Al Kingsley sees how relocated Chatteris aerospace company is taking flight

WATCH: Business Board’s Al Kingsley sees how relocated Chatteris aerospace company is taking flight

Member of the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority Business Board Al Kingsley took a tour of recently relocated aerospace parts manufacturer Aerotron Composites’ new Chatteris premises and heard about its plans for growth.

Aerotron Composites was supported to grow its new facility in Chatteris with a £2 million Local Growth Fund grant through the Business Board. The move has already led to a doubling of its workforce from 45 to more than 90 and a doubling of its output.

It supplies parts to both the civil and military aviation industry and has created a state-of-the-art facility, off Fenton Way, to ensure that it delivers high quality parts to its renowned clients worldwide. It moved to the site in July 2020.

The move from Huntingdon to Chatteris came with a five-year plan to turn Aerotron Composites into a £20 million business. Local people have benefitted from skilled jobs and the company is now well on their way to delivering on their growth ambition by increasing their customer base.

Further jobs will be created as the company grows, with a phase 2 building in the pipeline which would establish an aerospace repair centre.

Mr Kingsley heard how upskilling local people is hugely important to Aerotron Composites, which has launched its own training programme for apprentices to deliver the workforce pipeline it needs.

The Combined Authority and Business Board has a long-term ambition to create an advanced manufacturing innovation launchpad in Chatteris, aligned with the aim of the Combined Authority’s Local Industrial Strategy to promote growth in the sector. Work on that ambition includes Business Board funding for a new training school based at Stainless Metalcraft in the town, which will provide up to 130 apprentices per year for local employers.

Al Kingsley said:

“Forward thinking companies like Aerotron Composites are vital in supporting a strong and sustainable economic recovery from Covid-19. It was great to see not just the doubling of jobs and Aerotron’s plans for growth, but also the fact that they are prepared to invest in local people to give them the skills they need to thrive.

“It was very welcome to hear how the Business Board’s support is helping Aerotron on the road to becoming a very significant employer in the north of the county. It is fantastic to see a cutting-edge business committing to investing in Chatteris, and with a sustainable plan for continued growth.

“This project, alongside our investment for a new apprenticeship training school at Stainless Metalcraft in the town, represents something very important and exciting for the future of Chatteris. I very much look forward to revisiting Aerotron Composites in the future to see how their growth plans are going.”

Ian Davies, General Manager at Aerotron, said:

“Aerotron Composites looks forward to a long and lasting relationship with the Combined Authority and we are grateful for the support we have received to enable our relocation to Chatteris.

“We continue to expand and provide valuable skilled jobs in the local area, and we can provide training for those that wish to join us.

“We hope to commence phase 2 and 3 of our facilities in the very near future when even more jobs will be created.”