EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

  The West of England Aerospace Forum (WEAF) are pleased to contribute to this inquiry, as it meets the aims and objectives of our future strategy and also compliments the outcome of the Aerospace Innovation and Growth Teams (AeIGT) vision and the activities of the Aerospace Training South West project (ATSW). WEAF believes that raising the profile of science in the community also meets the aims and objectives of the Lisbon Strategy, in creating a focus on the "knowledge triangle" of research, education and innovation, as a means of enhancing human capital. The South West has been fortunate to have the @ Bristol facility based in the region and they have been great supporters of the Aerospace sector and WEAF would welcome the opportunity to further develop our partnership with them and other such organisations in the region. WEAF would expect the Government to set out a long-term strategy to promote the value of science based learning, the role of the private sector, and an evaluation of the sustainable economic impact of such a programme on the Aerospace sector. Set out below are the stepping stones that WEAF feels need to be implemented, if we are to maximise the full potential of any such future initiative.

1.  Economic Impact

  It is essential that there is a flow of young people, through the STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics) subjects to sustain and develop future intellectual property that drives wealth creation for the national economy. Although WEAF is primarily interested in the economic impact on the Aerospace sector, there is a realisation that a stimulation of interest must begin at an early age and therefore delivered across the age profile. WEAF believes that an economic study needs to be instigated to identify a quantifiable impact on the regional and national economy and the future levels of induced employment in direct and indirect terms. This study would be valuable in determining the best mechanism for engagement. However given their success Science and Discovery Centres should be utilised as a key delivery mechanism. While business can offer support to Science and Discovery Centres, their generic nature, need for constant sustained funding and their need to support a board church of needs, including educational needs, means that Government funding is required to support them.

2.  Skills Needs Analysis

  It is essential that future Government policy supports a science—based economy, as a significant element of wealth is generated by the provision of intellectual property into the UK. Therefore there is a need to identify current and future "skill gaps" and to implement policies that begin to change the direction in which our education system addresses these challenges. Activity here in the South West aerospace community (ATSW) has identified engagement of young people, from early childhood, is essential in providing the flow of talent into STEM and beyond into industry, S and D Centres form a significant piece of this process.

3.  Education and Skills

  The relationship between S and D Centres and other educational establishments will also be crucial. At present there is, as far as we can determine, little or no formal procedure or agreed mechanism to ensure that S and D Centres interface with Schools, FE Colleges, Universities and business on a regular basis. This situation is not an acceptable position, if we are to fully utilise S and D Centres to their full potential and engage pupils and students throughout their academic career and into the workplace.

4.  Locational Issues

  The current level of S and D Centre locations could be supplemented by introducing incentives to large employers to establish satellite centres on their own premises. These would operate in partnership with existing S and D Centres, providing science based learning opportunities to pupils and students within a workplace setting. This would extend the capacity of existing S and D Centres, broaden the age range of their engagement covering children's needs through to sixth form and even beyond into university. This would also give employers the opportunity to attract future employees to their particular sector, while creating matched funding opportunities.

5.  Potential Funding Streams

  The whole issue of funding will obviously underpin the process. WEAF believes that this is a unique opportunity to truly implement "joined up Government funding". The bringing together of a multi agency approach of relevant Central Government Departments/Agencies, Local Government and the private sector, is essential to success. The early identification of access to EU funding streams such as the F P 7 "Science in Society" programme, appear to be still somewhat of a mystery in some quarters, thus creating a series of missed opportunities which we should insure are not repeated.

6.  In Summary

  WEAF wishes to offer its full support to the S and D Centre concept, and encourages government to continue, even extend, the funding to maintain and development them. Government should continue to prompt the involvement of other government agencies to work with the S and D centres, and encourage industrial involvement wherever possible. The centres should be networked regionally with other bodies and together to form a nucleus of expertise, learning opportunity and public engagement for science.

June 2007