Advancing UK Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space Solutions Worldwide

Aerospace Events

ADS wins CQI award for SC21

ADS today celebrated the 2024 CQI International Outstanding Achievement Award for its SC21 Competitiveness Programme at the CQI Awards last night.



Image courtesy ADS

This prestigious award from the Chartered Quality Institute (CQI) acknowledges the programme’s exceptional impact on enhancing quality throughout the UK aerospace and defence supply chains.

The SC21 Competitiveness Programme was honoured for its contribution to improving quality standards within the supply chain to empower UK SMEs to become more competitive and resilient in a global market.

Advertisement
ODU RT

Built on 18+ years of success, the programme operates using continuous improvement. Through a new self-assessment tool and full assessment followed by the deployment of an individually focused Continuous Sustainable Improvement Plan and enhanced learning from a comprehensive library of 110+ improvement modules, participants can systematically build capability for improved operational excellence through quality and delivery performance.

SC21 Programme optimises the customer-supplier relationship for mutual benefit and is supported and recognised by leading Primes and OEMs and our regional partners. This award recognised the programme’s dedication to fostering industry buy-in and supporting supplier development to position the programme as a leading model for quality excellence and innovation.

Colin Hart, ADS Competitiveness Programme Director said: "We are delighted to receive the 2024 International Outstanding Achievement Award from the CQI. As we strive to meet the future challenges of net zero and global insecurity, the demands for competitive supply chains are multi-faceted and ever increasing. Quality remains a fundamental cornerstone in determining value, supply chain performance and safety.

"Since its launch, the SC21 programme has helped over 1,000 SMEs achieve internationally recognised supply chain performance, not only by helping them thoroughly understand their own business performance but also identifying and implementing the right steps to improve their efficiency, productivity and resilience.

"We take immense pride in the SC21 programme’s focus on evidenced quality performance, so this award not only recognises that success but more importantly the achievements of its participants who achieve consistent high-performance standards, not only of quality but also delivery and business capability."

Advertisement
ODU RT

Vince Desmond, CEO the Chartered Quality Institute said: “This is a richly deserved and, some might say, overdue recognition of the impact of the ADS Competitiveness Programme. In addition to acknowledging the great work by ADS, we hope this initiative provides a benchmark for other sectors in the development of quality management especially in terms of how to gain industry buy in, how to make it accessible to the supply chain, and how to develop and promote good practice through capability development support services.”

ADS is committed to driving quality improvements and competitive standards in UK supply chains. As our sectors look to the future, the SC21 Competitiveness Programme will continue to play a pivotal role in shaping resilient, high-performing supply chains.

SC21: now part of the ADS SCS Framework
SC21 provides an accessible platform for suppliers to develop and promote best practices, thereby raising their overall capabilities. It is now a cornerstone of the Supply Chain Solutions (SCS) Framework, an enhanced cross sector programme led by industry through a partnership delivery model, facilitated by ADS in partnership with Regional Aerospace Alliances. The framework enables suppliers to improve their competitive performance, highlights innovation funding and helps SMEs build maturity in sustainability and wider ESG goals.

You can find out more about the SC21 Competitiveness Programme and SCS Framework here:
www.scsframework.org.uk

Advertisement
FIA2026 animated banner
Aston University secures £3.9m to boost aerospace and cybersecurity skills

Aerospace Security

Aston University secures £3.9m to boost aerospace and cybersecurity skills

10 June 2026

Aston University has secured almost £4 million in new funding to improve the UK’s aerospace engineering and cybersecurity skills.

Marshall Aerospace completes initial flight model for Horizon Aircraft’s Cavorite X7

Aerospace

Marshall Aerospace completes initial flight model for Horizon Aircraft’s Cavorite X7

10 June 2026

Marshall Aerospace has successfully completed a flight dynamics and control model to support Horizon Aircraft’s Cavorite X7, a revolutionary dual-use hybrid-electric vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft currently in prototype development.

NATS invests in carbon removals with CUR8

Aerospace

NATS invests in carbon removals with CUR8

9 June 2026

NATS has committed £500k to carbon removals through carbon removals intelligence provider CUR8, contributing to an initiative led by the UK Sustainable Aviation coalition, to stimulate the carbon removals market as part of a £2 million Advance Market Signal.

HutanBio partners with Wakud on scalable SAF feedstocks

Aerospace

HutanBio partners with Wakud on scalable SAF feedstocks

9 June 2026

Cambridge biotechnology company HutanBio, which is developing algae-derived oils for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), has signed its first commercial offtake Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Oman's Wakud International, as the aviation industry searches for new feedstock sources capable of supporting future SAF demand.

Advertisement
ODU RT
Tekever and Sapient Perception to explore airborne ISR sensing integration

Aerospace Security Space

Tekever and Sapient Perception to explore airborne ISR sensing integration

9 June 2026

Tekever and Sapient Perception have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to explore the integration and evaluation of Sapient Perception’s 10K camera system on Tekever uncrewed aerial systems.

Barrow school to launch technical education pathway

Aerospace Defence

Barrow school to launch technical education pathway

8 June 2026

Walney School in Barrow-in-Furness is going to be introducing an innovative employer-led technical education pathway in September, which aims to equip young people with the skills for high-quality careers and to help local employers tackle skills shortages.

Advertisement
ODU RT
Advertisement
FIA2026 animated banner