Advancing UK Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space Solutions Worldwide
  • Home
  • /
  • Aerospace
  • /
  • Drones could lead to £1.1bn UK Public Sector savings

Aerospace

Drones could lead to £1.1bn UK Public Sector savings

New research from Nesta Challenges’ Flying High programme, which analyses how drones can provide benefits to UK cities, reveals that the use of drones - for services such as blood sample transport by regional pathology units and the NHS - could save the public sector £1.1bn by 2035.


Courtesy Nesta

The report, 'Flying high - Seizing the opportunity', commissioned by Nesta Challenges’ Flying High programme - which is supported by Innovate UK - and with economic forecasting by PwC, looks into the economic benefits to the UK public sector. 

In addition to the savings, the report found that drones to support the delivery of public services in urban areas could increase UK GDP by £6.9 billion in the next 15 years.
According to the report, drones could bring significant cost savings to the public and increase efficiencies for local councils providing public services. For example, they could support faster, more efficient transportation of medical supplies or blood samples, replacing the need for costly road transport vehicles, or help emergency services, like fire and police, to assess a scene before they arrive.

Advertisement
Teledyne

Drones could encourage innovative approaches to infrastructure maintenance and work too, alleviating pressure on councils finding resources for jobs that are more labour-intensive.

Of the UK’s largest cities, London, Birmingham and Leeds would have an increased GDP of £1.4bn, £687m and £320m respectively, with cost savings of £115m (Birmingham), £53m (London) and £53m ( Leeds).

Top cities where Public Sector could be impacted by drone technology
(Source: Nesta Challenge’s Seizing the Opportunity report)

Local Authority

Cost Saving

GDP impact

Birmingham

 £115million

£687million

London

 £53million

£1.4billion

Leeds

 £53million

 £320million

Manchester

 £37million

 £222million

City of Edinburgh

 £35million

 £212million

City of Bristol

£25 million

£151 million

Nottingham

£14 million

£82 million

Leicester

£14 million

£85 million

Southampton

£7 million

£41 million

Bradford

£19 million

£116 million


GDP impact in the public sector by region
Advertisement
ODU RT

A map showing the GDP impact in public sector across the UK shows how significant the impact would be, with public sector in the North of the UK benefiting substantially from the new technology.

Tris Dyson, Executive Director of Nesta Challenges, which manages Flying High, said: “Drones delivering public services in cities could be part of our reality in the near future, bringing major benefits for the public sector.

“This is a great opportunity but cities and the public they represent will be critical in enabling the development of these urban drone services. If we can integrate technology, regulation, city leadership, public services and public engagement, we will help position the UK as a global leader in developing urban drone services and will unlock the significant economic opportunity for our future.”

Elaine Whyte, UK Drones Lead for PwC, said: "From this new research, we can see that the potential benefits of drones are not limited to business and that the public sector can achieve significant cost savings by applying drone technologies to the challenges that local authorities face. Whilst there are disparities across the regions, it is pleasing to see that every region in the UK can financially benefit by adopting and deploying drone technologies.

“The benefits and value of drone technology are undeniable, however public perception remains low and awareness of drone potential even lower. It is clear now that we need a nationwide drones vision and strategy to turn these figures into a reality.”

A CGI video, showing how drones could be used by public services, has been created by Flying High to encourage discussion about possible uses of drones in the UK.
The video shows three different scenarios where drones are used to benefit society, including the transportation of medical equipment to paramedics at the scene of a crash, a drone providing data back to fire services after analysing a building on fire and spotting a fault line on a railway path that needs fixing.

The video can be found here https://bit.ly/2Zh0pAM

The full report, Flying High: Seizing the Opportunity, can be found here.

 

Advertisement
General Atomics LB
Flights increase as summer hots up

Aerospace

Flights increase as summer hots up

18 July 2025

UK air traffic in June increased by 2.5% on the same month last year as NATS, the UK’s major provider of air traffic services, safely handled 237,215 flights, up more than 2,600 on May.

ZeroAvia granted patents for hydrogen-electric engine development

Aerospace

ZeroAvia granted patents for hydrogen-electric engine development

17 July 2025

ZeroAvia today announced it has been awarded nine new patents this year so far, with many critical to the company’s roadmap for scaling hydrogen-electric engines for large regional aircraft.

BBGA co-hosts Isle of Man Aviation Conference

Aerospace

BBGA co-hosts Isle of Man Aviation Conference

17 July 2025

For the first time, the British Business General Aviation Association (BBGA) joined Martyn Fiddler as joint hosts of the 13th Isle of Man Aviation Conference, bringing together 120 business aviation delegates at Douglas’ Villa Marina venue.

Flying to become more accessible for disabled people

Aerospace

Flying to become more accessible for disabled people

16 July 2025

An industry and consumer expert group, tasked by the UK Government to advise on how to make flying more accessible for disabled people, has unveiled its suite of recommendations today.

Advertisement
DSEI 2025
Doncasters expands Groton site with new shell line

Aerospace

Doncasters expands Groton site with new shell line

15 July 2025

Doncasters today announced the successful commissioning of a brand-new, fully automated shell line, at its Groton facility in the US - a major milestone within its 2025 Performance Improvement Plan and a key advancement in the company’s long-term manufacturing strategy.

ZeroAvia and Horizon Aircraft to explore hydrogen eVTOL propulsion

Aerospace

ZeroAvia and Horizon Aircraft to explore hydrogen eVTOL propulsion

15 July 2025

ZeroAvia and Horizon Aircraft today announced plans to work together on developing regional hydrogen-electric VTOL air travel.

Advertisement
Gulfstream RT