At the centre of the UK’s largest automotive, rail and aerospace clusters, the West Midlands is at the forefront of R&D to target the key global future mobility challenges.
Establishing a legacy for invention at the height of the first Industrial Revolution, today the region remains a powerhouse of productivity and innovation. A leading location for goods exports outside London and the Southeast, the West Midlands’ manufacturing sector generates £10.4bn GVA for the national economy – more than any other cluster across the country.
A 211,000-strong workforce accounts for 11.3% of all local employment – well above the national average of 7.9%. Specialising in machinery, electronics, and transport, the region’s extensive and multi-layered supply chain reflects its deep-rooted expertise.
Manufacturers at all stages of the growth cycle – from homegrown start-ups to historic SMEs – support a network of global heavyweights that call the West Midlands home, with Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), Aston Martin, Rolls Royce Control Systems and Collins Aerospace among the leading local players. A collaborative ecosystem of academic-industry partnerships underpins the scale of the sector, offering a fertile landscape to commercialise new technologies from research labs to market.
DON’T FORGET:
- A third of all British-made cars, and one in four UK engines, are made in the West Midlands
- We’re home to a 46,500-strong advanced manufacturing workforce
- The industry is fuelled by 32,500 STEM students graduating from local universities each year
- Our advanced manufacturing sector is worth £10.4bn
- The West Midlands is home to the highest number of rail-related jobs of any UK regional authority area
DID YOU KNOW...
Over 21% of all the UK’s automotive parts and accessories manufacturers are based in the West Midlands.
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