Lancashire’s aerospace industry – which supports thousands of high-skilled and high-value jobs across the county – has enjoyed a significant boost through the extension of the Watchtower initiative.
First launched in 2022 by the North West Aerospace Alliance (NWAA), Watchtower was a £1million support programme originally developed to help mitigate the impact of the Covid pandemic on Lancashire’s advanced engineering and manufacturing sectors (AEM).
Funded by Lancashire County Council (LCC), the initial project supported interventions across a wide range of areas including diagnostics, talent retention and innovation. It also identified and signposted businesses to new growth opportunities and potential partnerships.
The success of the original Watchtower has now led to a further £300,000 investment from LCC to support Watchtower 2.
Designed to ensure that Lancashire’s aerospace businesses and supply chain remains at the forefront of global innovation, the 12-month Watchtower 2 programme will have a strong focus on areas like diversification, sustainability and accelerated growth.
Cllr Aidy Riggott, LCC’s cabinet member for Economic Development and Growth, said:
“Lancashire County Council is proud to support the continuation of the Watchtower programme, which has already delivered significant benefits to our local aerospace and advanced engineering sectors. This programme is an investment in the future of Lancashire’s economy, and we look forward to seeing our AEM sector continue to flourish.”
Paul Bell, Programme Manager at NWAA, said: “The original programme provided businesses with clear roadmaps for growth and development. We are excited to build on that success with Watchtower 2, helping businesses thrive in the new era of technology and sustainability.”
Businesses in Lancashire’s AEM sector interested in participating in Watchtower 2 can find out more here.
