ADDITIONAL MANAGEMENT RESOURCE GIVES AEROSPACE SME...

Jonathan Lee Recruitment wins contract to supply Technology Managers, supporting government-funded three-year initiative.

Specialist engineering recruitment consultancy Jonathan Lee Recruitment has won a prestigious contract to source additional Technology Managers in support of the National Aerospace Technology Exploitation Programme (NATEP), a three-year, £40m project financed by the government-funded Advanced Manufacturing Supply Chain Initiative. NATEP’s primary objective is to help small and medium-sized UK-based aerospace suppliers invest further in research and development. The resulting product and service advances will provide the opportunity for SMEs to be recognised by higher tier companies. Ultimately, to create more jobs and sustain the UK’s aerospace market growth and position in the global aerospace sector.

The Technology Managers recruited by Jonathan Lee Recruitment will further guide and mentor individual businesses through NATEP’s funding process to support the project goal of developing over 100 market-ready novel technologies from companies within the UK aerospace supply chain. These technologies, sponsored by the main aerospace tiers as part of NATEP’s process, will in turn support the UK’s aerospace supply chain. Jonathan Lee Recruitment, who work very closely with UK aerospace companies, target to appoint up to 9 new managers by mid-2015.

“The Technology Managers that we place will work as mentors with SMEs in the UK’s aerospace sector. Their knowledge and skill will help win funding to develop new technologies and expand their individual expertise,” explains Matthew Heath, Jonathan Lee Recruitment’s Managing Consultant for Aerospace, Defence and Aviation.

Heath and his team are working directly with NATEP to secure the right people for the positions. The programme is also supported by core regional initiatives including the Midlands Aerospace Alliance, the West of England Aerospace Forum, the North West Aerospace Alliance, Aerospace Wales and the Farnborough Aerospace Consortium.

Heath concludes: “We feel privileged to have been appointed to source additional Technology Managers for this programme. UK SME’s are a tremendous source of innovation and expertise and we are certain that they will help the UK aerospace industry continue to develop highly competitive new products. NATEP is an excellent Government initiative that will provide firms with the opportunity to grow their businesses and generate new jobs in the UK.”

Note to Editors

The National Aerospace Technology Exploitation Programme (NATEP) was established in 2012 by The Aerospace Growth Partnership (AGP), a collaboration between government and industry working to secure the future of the UK aerospace sector for the next 15 years and beyond. The AGP recognised that larger aerospace companies acting alone will not be able to make the product technology advances required to sustain the UK’s current position in global aerospace markets; the solution identified was to work with smaller SME suppliers to help move them up the value chain and produce new product technologies that will ultimately increase their overall ability to win new business from Tier 1 companies worldwide.

The Advanced Manufacturing Supply Chain Initiative is a funding competition designed to improve the global competitiveness of UK advanced manufacturing supply chains. Funding is available to support research and development, skills training and capital investment to help UK supply chains achieve world-class standards and encourage major new suppliers to locate in the UK.

About Jonathan Lee Recruitment

Jonathan Lee Recruitment is a specialist in the recruitment of permanent and contract personnel for all types of technology-focused businesses. The company’s consultants are part of the industry, many having worked directly within engineering and manufacturing companies. Having developed a strong reputation as the leading specialist within the automotive industry, our expertise now extends to many other sectors including Aerospace and Defence. Jonathan Lee Recruitment’s insight is complemented by the HR skills needed to provide sound advice that helps companies apply the latest knowledge and tools to the delivery of long-term value through exceptional people.