Speaking at the Made in the South West awards in Bristol earlier this month, the president of Airbus Group UK celebrated the region’s leading manufacturing companies.

In his keynote speech, Paul Kahn described the South-West manufacturing sector as “one of the great success stories
of the UK economy and a significant contributor to national prosperity”.

He said: “The Government talks about developing a Northern Powerhouse, but I believe we already have a fully fledged South Western Powerhouse. As long as we have the right conditions for investment and continue to strive for innovation, I see no reason why our success cannot be built upon further and take us all even higher.”

Mr Kahn highlighted the importance of the region to the UK aerospace sector in particular, saying it would be “unrecognisable” without the South West.

Airbus can trace its roots in the South West back to 1910, when the Bristol Aeroplane Co was founded (pictured). It now employs more than 4,000 people at its Filton site.