Sharing in Growth (SiG), the transformational supplier development programme conceived by Rolls-Royce and launched in 2012 with support from the Regional Growth Fund, is celebrating success having delivered £9.8 billion in additional contracts and supported 92,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) years of high-skilled employment through UK aerospace suppliers.
SiG has worked with nearly 100 aerospace suppliers, each endorsed by a leading aerospace customer, to develop the leadership, skills and operational excellence needed to compete successfully in global markets. The programme's economic impact is more than double the original commitment between Rolls-Royce and the Department for Business and Trade and provides a powerful model for the future.
Malcolm James, CEO of Sharing in Growth, said: “This ambitious industry-led, government-supported programme demonstrates what can be achieved when industry and government work together to invest in long-term capability and productivity.
“Nearly 100 aerospace suppliers across a wide range of commodities – from forgings, to machining, optical systems to composite structures - have transformed their leadership, culture, productivity and competitiveness through multi-year engagements with Sharing in Growth. The results include £9.8 billion in additional contracts, 92,000 years of skilled employment supported and stronger more competitive aerospace supply chains that are generating value for the UK economy today.”
He added: “Our mission remains unchanged – to help ambitious manufacturers build the people, processes and leadership needed to achieve sustainable growth and compete successfully on a global stage.”
Unlike traditional consultancy, Sharing in Growth delivers multi-year transformation programmes that combine coaching, mentoring, structured training and hands-on operational development. SiG works with client organisations to build internal capability, embed leadership behaviours and establish operational disciplines that continue to deliver value long after engagements complete.
Key capability areas include business strategy and growth, governance and leadership development, operational excellence, production planning, supply chain and financial management, new product introduction and cultural transformation.
An independent evaluation conducted by SQW on behalf of the UK Government identified strong positive impacts on leadership capability, organisational culture, skills development, operational performance and the successful implementation of business change.
The impact of Sharing in Growth can be seen in the success of businesses across the UK aerospace sector.
Castle Precision Engineering , one of the first companies to join the programme in 2013, transformed from a supplier focused on a single aero engine customer into a strategic partner serving multiple global aerospace manufacturers.
Despite being heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the business recovered strongly, growing turnover from £22 million in 2019 to £41 million in 2025, increasing employment from 121 to 148 people and maintaining an apprenticeship rate of 12.5% – more than four times the UK average.
Yan Tiefenbrun, managing director of Castle Precision, said: “Culturally, Sharing in Growth had a massive lasting impact on us. The principles introduced over a decade ago still drive how we operate today. They planted golden acorns across our business that we've continued to build on as we've grown. Even after 14 years, we still trust Sharing in Growth to support our business because of their proven capability & thought leadership.”
North Yorkshire-based engineering specialist
Sylatech also achieved significant results through its transformation programme, including a 33% improvement in value-add per person, a 51% increase in revenue and right-first-time quality performance of 99.5%. The business also strengthened leadership capability, employee engagement and operational performance, positioning itself for continued growth across aerospace, defence and space markets.
Charlie Breese, managing director of Sylatech, said: "The impact of Sharing in Growth touches every part of the company. Our organisational structure has had a complete facelift – we now have a robust governance system that connects the shopfloor to the board."
Sharing in Growth continues to support ambitious manufacturers through leadership development, operational excellence and supply chain transformation programmes in the UK and internationally.
Operating across some of the UK's most strategic industries – aerospace, defence, nuclear and renewable energy – SiG is committed to improving productivity, business performance, and enhancing global competitiveness through people, processes and the leadership capabilities required for long-term success.