Engineering group GKN has reported a 19% rise in first-quarter profits, with its Bristol-based aerospace interests contributing strongly.
The aerospace division, which makes wing parts for Airbus at its plants at Filton and Easter Compton, achieved a 13% rise in trading profits to £36m during the period on sales 5% higher at £370m.
The division was helped by a significant increase in production of Airbus aircraft. It is also benefiting from a contract with French aerospace firm Dassault Aviation to design and build the wing moveable surfaces for its next generation super mid-sized (SMS) business jet platform.
GKN has created a global centre of excellence in composite aircraft wing structures at Filton following its acquisition of Airbus’s manufacturing interests in 2008. It employs around 1,500 at the site producing wing sections for Airbus’s existing models.
It has also developed a new site at Easter Compton, for state-of-the-art automated composites manufacturing. Wing spars and trailing-edge assemblies for the Airbus’s new A350 XWB aircraft are being made at the plant.
GKN Aerospace has also invested in the National Composites Centre (NCC), which is based at the Bristol and Bath Science Park in Emersons Green.
The Filton company also recently announced that is to fund six young people on a ‘higher apprenticeship’ scheme operated in conjunction with City of Bristol College.
The apprentices will gain an NVQ level 4 extended diploma in engineering leadership and a foundation degree in engineering, which will let them gain a full degree while they are working in the industry.
Read more: Bristol aerospace work helps profits take off at GKN (Bristol Business News)
Related link: Apprenticeships at GKN Aerospace (GKN)
