The attendance of 15 government ministers at the Farnborough event this week is unprecedented in the history of the airshow and underpins the importance the Government places on the contribution that growth and exports will make to helping rebalance the economy.
 
In officially declaring the 2012 Farnborough International Airshow open on Monday morning, the Prime Minister praised the phenomenal success of the UK aerospace industry and identified the Aerospace Growth Partnership - an ADS organised initiative dating from 2011 - as an effect model for embracing synergies between industry and government in aiding the future development of the aerospace sector and helping expand export capabilities.  He suggested also, that the Aerospace Growth Partnership process provided an ideal model to be adopted by other industry sectors. The PM notably signalled out defence as a sector which should adopt this process going forward.

 
He went on to stress the importance of investing in and improving the skills base of the aerospace industries and pledged to increase help to the MSc programme by committing his Government to assisting industry with the introduction of 500 extra university places.  The PM also recognised the apprenticeship scheme as being the lifeblood of the aerospace industry and confirmed Government assistance with industry to increase the annual intake to the aerospace sector.
 
He saw it as a government priority to work with industry to increase exports and promised to visit every G20 country, to push the mantra that the UK is open for business and to help increase interest in UK exports.
 
In direct support of the aerospace industry, the PM said: "From this Government you will see nothing less than an unstinting, unrelenting, unflagging commitment to making Britain the best place in the world for aerospace businesses to invest, design, manufacture and export".
 
Rees Ward, CEO at ADS, said: “I am delighted at the high level of support given to Farnborough this year by the Prime Minister.  His presence here in opening the show is indicative of the degree of importance his Government places in recognising the vital role that aerospace and defence sector global exports play in boosting the economic well-being of the country.  Through the course of this week, we will see an unusually high number of Coalition Government Ministers attending specific events here at Farnborough in a direct show of support for our industries and a vindication of the on-going engagement strategy we at ADS enjoy with the various Government departments. This is a government which is clearly listening and responding, and we will work tirelessly to deliver the PM’s vision for our Aerospace and Defence sectors.”