Farnborough Aerospace Consortium (FAC) has added almost 30 new members this year as the sector continues to recover from the pandemic.

While air travel has just about returned to pre-Covid levels, other areas are still in recovery.

Businesses have noted that cooperation and collaboration have been important in getting back to 2020 levels and FAC has helped that happen.

The FAC trade association works across the south and south-east, representing hundreds of companies in the aerospace, aviation, defence and space sectors as well as their supply chains.

The most recent members are: Allmatics (BTC World Ltd), South West Metal Finishing, Valuechain, Resilient Edge and Cre8tive Space Ltd.

Alan Fisher, CEO of FAC, said: “This country is world-leading when it comes to aerospace and we are determined to keep it that way.

“Our growing membership understands that we are able to assist in winning business for them and getting SMEs access to the big, multi-national players.

“Collaboration between businesses has proved key in the recovery after the lockdowns and we have been able to help that happen.

“FAC runs many events and we provide information and assistance of use to the businesses working in the various sectors we cover.

“We have taken members abroad to the US and other countries to meet businesses and organisations and this has proved extremely productive.

“At the last Farnborough Air Show we signed several ‘memoranda of understanding’ with foreign organisations like ours and these have proved fruitful.

“While most of our members are based in the south and south-east, we have them from around the country and overseas.

“FAC has gained 28 new members this year and there is a gathering momentum that we anticipate will lead to great strides being made in 2024.

“Net-zero, cleaner fuels, other innovations and new legislation will make next year a busy one for the sector.

“Businesses know this which is another reason why our membership has grown.

“Our conference in the autumn highlighted a number of issues that will impact all businesses in the sector and which we are addressing.

“We’d encourage businesses to join us and benefit from everything we offer.”Subscribe to the FINN weekly newsletter