News / Airbus
‘We need a plan B if Airbus leaves’
Scrutiny councillors in the West of England have said there has to be a plan B for business investment if Airbus leaves the region.
The discussion about the future of the aerospace company took place at a scrutiny meeting of the West of England Combined Authority (Weca) on Wednesday.
Last month Airbus, which is one of the region’s biggest employers, warned it could be pulling out of the area – and Britain altogether – in the event of a ‘no-deal’ Brexit.
The firm employs thousands of people at its plant in Filton, and thousands more in the north Bristol area work for companies that supply it.
(L-R) Metro mayor Tim Bowles, business and industry minister Richard Harrington and Prof Steve West, chairman of West of England LEP during a visit to the Airbus landing gear.
In the meeting, members were discussing a review of the Invest Bristol and Bath (IBB) scheme – a dedicated service established to attract investment to the region, with companies such as Airbus, Aardman and Intel at the forefront.
The discussions prompted South Gloucestershire councillor Katherine Morris to ask “what happens if Airbus leaves?”
“There is so much uncertainty at the moment on a global scale, with Brexit and also the potential trade wars between America and China,” she said.
“So what happens if Airbus leaves? I don’t think it will, but I can see the firm slimming down its operations in Filton.
“It’s death by 1,000 cuts if you ask me.
“We view this as a region of civil aerospace and we have really invested in the wings industry. This uncertainty nags away at the back of my brain and we need to have a plan B if Airbus does leave the region.”
Neil Gregory, interim head of business and skills at Weca, said the region needed to continue to attract and have advantages for businesses like Airbus to stay.
But he added that for every Airbus there are 1,000 smaller businesses and “perhaps a little too much focus has gone into high profile firms and not on these smaller companies”.
Can smaller businesses such as those nurtured at Engine Shed fill the gap if giants such as Airbus leave?
Geoff Gollop, chair of Bristol City Council’s scrutiny committee, said he felt the success of business investment in the region lay with smaller independent firms.
“Yes we need to be able to attract inward investment, but we must not forget that small and medium sized businesses are much more resilient to recession,” he said.
“We need to provide a workforce and a workspace they can operate from.”
His opinions were echoed by Weca scrutiny chair Stephen Clarke, who said Bristol had seen lots of growth thanks to microbusiness.
“If Airbus decides to move that will be a blow to the region, but if one microbusiness leaves there are still 999 encouraging investment in the area,” he added.
Speaking after the meeting, metro mayor Tim Bowles said: “Our review of Invest Bristol and Bath will help shape future work to attract new businesses to the region.
“In addition to this, we will continue to strengthen our support for those businesses already here.
“One of the many great things about the West of England is the number, diversity and ingenuity of our small and medium sized business and, as mayor, it is one of my priorities is to ensure they get the continuing help and support they need to grow and prosper.”
Kate Wilson is a local democracy reporter for Bristol.
Read more: ‘No deal Brexit scenario directly threatens Airbus’ future in the UK’
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