We have slowly grown over the years and have never had a problem in finding skilled labour, even though we are incredibly picky about who we employ. Working for Ariel is more than a job, it’s part of a growing family… we have never once had an employee leave.
Simon Saunders, Ariel Motor Company
Advanced Engineering
Around 9,500 people are employed in Somerset’s world-leading aerospace and advanced engineering companies.
In fact, South Somerset has the biggest cluster of advanced engineering companies in the South West, according to the Knowledge Economy Report, Local Futures Group, 2004, and its Location Quotient is more than six times the South West average.
Amongst the best-known companies across the county are leading European helicopter manufacturer, AgustaWestland and top aerospace companies Aerosystems International and Honeywell Aerospace UK, all based in Yeovil.
Engineering expertise is also in evidence in companies such as Thales at Templecombe and Wells; Chard-based Numatic International, which makes Henry vacuums; Singer Instruments, at Watchet; SEA systems just outside Frome and Ariel Motor Company, in Crewkerne.
There are also a growing number of highly-specialised engineering firms, manufacturing instruments and components for the aerospace, medical, transport, motor sport and other industries.
Bearing in mind the skilled nature of this work and its exacting standards, there is a worldwide demand for Somerset’s aerospace and advanced engineering expertise.
In total, around 4% of Somerset’s growing workforce is employed in the sector that was worth £363m to the economy in 2005.
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