A|D|S, the UK’s AeroSpace, Defence and Security trade organisation today (Friday) celebrates its first anniversary following the successful merger in October 2009 of the Association of Police and Public Security Suppliers, the Defence Manufacturers Association and the Society of British Aerospace Companies.
For the first year of A|D|S the Council and Officers were appointed from former office-holders from each of the constituent, historic trade organisations. Elections are now underway amongst the membership for A|D|S President, four sector Vice Presidents and the Council to be announced later in the year. Nominations were received at this week’s Annual General Meeting and ballot papers are now being sent to members.
Ian Godden, Chairman of A|D|S, said:
“Our first year has been a real success, although it has also been a whirlwind of activity within the organisation and with external stakeholders as a result of the General Election. The new trade organisation represents the UK’s high value manufacturing and services businesses in four sectors – that together employ over half a million people across the country and generate more than £60 billion per year to the UK economy. These sectors make up 20 per cent of the total UK manufacturing base and a much greater proportion of the engineers and industrial designers in the country.
“We have a great deal of work still to do, not least during the party political conference season and in the run-up to the comprehensive spending review but we have also been very active to support our members in their drive for growth and international success. Having dealt with most of the internal matters relating to a merger of differing interests, we look forward now to the future with a strong organisation that can represent the best of British manufacturing, technology and services at the high level that they deserve.”
A|D|S has taken on 123 new members since 1 October 2009 and now has 888 members.
In the last year, after the successful launch of A|D|S, a few of the highlights have been:
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Leadership in policy debates that affect the UK aerospace, defence and security industries around the General Election and forthcoming Strategic Defence and Security Review and Comprehensive Spending Review.
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The launch of new offices in Bangalore, India and Belfast, Northern Ireland to provide additional assistance to members alongside existing A|D|S offices in London, Bristol (Abbey Wood), Farnborough, Edinburgh, Toulouse and New Delhi as well as the announcement of plans for new offices in the Middle East.
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A very successful Farnborough International Airshow 2010, run by A|D|S subsidiary company Farnborough International Limited, that saw an increased number of exhibitors and the beginning of the recovery of the aerospace sector following the global downturn. The show saw many popular events including the Space Zone, Unmanned Aerial Systems displays, security events, visits from 11 UK Government Ministers 72 international military delegations and over 3,000 young people attending the first Futures Day on the Friday of the show with over 200,000 attendees in total for the show week.
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A successful inaugural Bahrain International Airshow 2010 in which Farnborough International Limited played the major partnership role.
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A major expansion of the Home Office Scientific Development Branch exhibition at Farnborough with a large increase in the number of exhibiting companies and international security delegations.
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The recruitment of a new Managing Director, Aerospace & Operations plus a new supporting aerospace team.
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The management of over 140 events, overseas delegations and inward visits over the past year.
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The launch of a dedicated members’ helpline for small and medium sized businesses.