Transport

The transport industries make a significant contribution to the East Midlands' regional economy, measured in terms of a combination of size, gross value added (GVA) contribution, growth, employment quality and strategic significance.

The industries comprising the transport equipment sector include:

Aerospace: The UK has the second largest aerospace industry in the world, after the USA. The East Midlands is an important aerospace region, accounting for 15% of the UK industry by value and employment. Major companies include Rolls-Royce, Alstom Aerospace, Thales, SPS Aerostructures and Meggitt (Dunlop Bestobell). There are also six major university-industry aerospace technology centres.

Motorsport: The UK’s teams, engineering firms and supporting services have dominated global motorsport for many years. The manufacturing aspects of the industry are concentrated in a cluster that includes the East Midlands, particularly Northamptonshire, as well as parts of the West Midlands, East and South East of England. The region is home to engine constructors such as Cosworth, Mercedes Benz High Performance Engines, Ilmor Engineering and Mahle Powertrain. It is also the base for two Formula One teams and has the international venues of Donington Park and Silverstone.

Automotive: The automotive industry in the East Midlands is very important, particularly as Toyota, which employs 5,000 people, is based in the region. There are also a number of research and development facilities in the region, notably Cenex, the UK’s first Centre of Excellence for low carbon and fuel cell technologies.

Rail: The East Midlands is at the hub of the UK rail network and the rail cluster includes businesses that are active in all aspects of rail services for the UK and global markets. Derby is home to the train manufacturer – Bombardier, as well as other consultancies and service providers.

Leisure Marine: Although small compared to the other transport industries, there is a successful leisure marine sector which manufactures and repairs boats for use at sea and inland waterways.

Transport equipment makes a major contribution to the East Midlands economy:

• Approximately, 38,000 people work in the East Midlands transport equipment sector, which is one of the larger manufacturing sub-sectors in the region.
• Transport equipment has the highest productivity, measured by Gross Value Added (GVA) per employee, of any sector in the region.
• Output growth in the East Midlands (29% for the period 2004-14) is forecast to be higher than the national average (around 8%).
• Transport equipment is a high-quality employment sector, with average annual earnings almost a third above the East Midlands average.
• There are a significant number of globally competitive large employers, with their supply chains in the sector.

For more infromation about support available to the transport equipment sector please visit the Transport Equipment iNet pages on this website.