Stourbridge-based specialist engineering recruitment consultancy Jonathan Lee Recruitment has won a prestigious contract to source additional Technology Managers in support of the National Aerospace Technology Exploitation Programme (NATEP), a three-year, £40m project financed by the government-funded Advanced Manufacturing Supply Chain Initiative. NATEP’s primary objective is to help small and medium-sized UK-based aerospace suppliers invest further in research and development. The resulting product and service advances will provide the opportunity for SMEs to be recognised by higher tier companies. Ultimately, to create more jobs and sustain the UK’s aerospace market growth and position in the global aerospace sector.
The Technology Managers recruited by Jonathan Lee Recruitment will further guide and mentor individual businesses through NATEP’s funding process to support the project goal of developing over 100 market-ready novel technologies from companies within the UK aerospace supply chain. These technologies, sponsored by the main aerospace tiers as part of NATEP’s process, will in turn support the UK’s aerospace supply chain. Jonathan Lee Recruitment, who work very closely with UK aerospace companies, target to appoint up to 9 new managers by mid-2015.
“The Technology Managers that we place will work as mentors with SMEs in the UK’s aerospace sector. Their knowledge and skill will help win funding to develop new technologies and expand their individual expertise,” explains Matthew Heath, Jonathan Lee Recruitment’s Managing Consultant for Aerospace, Defence and Aviation.
Heath and his team are working directly with NATEP to secure the right people for the positions. The programme is also supported by core regional initiatives including the Midlands Aerospace Alliance, the West of England Aerospace Forum, the North West Aerospace Alliance, Aerospace Wales and the Farnborough Aerospace Consortium.
Heath concludes: “We feel privileged to have been appointed to source additional Technology Managers for this programme. UK SME’s are a tremendous source of innovation and expertise and we are certain that they will help the UK aerospace industry continue to develop highly competitive new products. NATEP is an excellent Government initiative that will provide firms with the opportunity to grow their businesses and generate new jobs in the UK.”