Dorset companies excelling in advanced engineering sectors include the following global and European leaders:
The county is also home to the Dorset Engineering & Manufacturing Cluster (Dorset EMC), which was created to provide a voice for the sector across Dorset, and enable companies to collaborate, increase their sustainability, and help achieve their full potential. The Dorset EMC has evolved into a successful network of 300+ businesses across different supply chains.
A heat map for Advanced Engineering and Manufacturing companies in Dorset and the South West is available here.
Download our short guide to Dorset's Advanced Engineering and Manufacturing sector.
Aerospace
The UK has the world’s second largest aerospace industry. Dorset counts aerospace as one of its leading key industries. Dorset based companies excelling in aerospace include global and European leaders:
Dorset is a leading hub for aerospace maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO). See our aerospace MRO inward investment opportunity brochure here.
The aerospace supply chain in Dorset is supported by:
Many of Dorset’s aerospace companies help the world’s most significant civil and defence projects with research and development, design and manufacturing.
Dorset is also part of the South West Aerospace cluster of the UK, the largest in Europe. All the Local Enterprise Partnerships in the South West of England have engaged in promoting aerospace as the leading cluster in Europe.
Within the UK the South West has the largest aerospace cluster and one of the most diverse advanced manufacturing clusters in the country. The region’s extensive network of highly-skilled and innovative suppliers means the South West is the obvious choice for industry giants such as Airbus, Leonardo, Boeing and Rolls Royce to name but a few. To find more about the proposition, click here.
Defence
Thanks to its maritime naval history, Dorset is at the forefront of R&D defence with world-class companies based here:
Dorset is also home to several Ministry of Defence Centres of Excellence:
- The Royal Marines Base Poole, Dorset is the centre for the Royal Marines and Royal Navy amphibious and riverine activities.
- The Royal Corps of Signals based at Blandford, Dorset is the centre of excellence and training for information computer technology for the British Army.
- The Armour Centre at Bovington, Dorset is the centre of excellence for training in the core skills of armoured warfare.
- The Royal Engineers Bridging Camp in Wyke Regis, situated on the Dorset coastline is the only bridging training centre retained by the British Army.
Dorset is also at the forefront of R&D in defence with leading world-class companies based here including:
Marine and Composite Technologies
Dorset is also home to some of the largest players in the field of composite technologies, used in both marine and renewable energy industries:
- Sunseeker International and The Royal National Lifeboat Institution both invest in R&D and manufacturing of composite technologies within Dorset. Sunseeker has manufacturing units within Poole and Osprey Quay, Portland and the RNLI has invested in a brand new R&D and manufacturing facility at its HQ and College based in Poole.
- Norco GRP, a leader in its field in combining composite technology with tidal power generation.
Other leading companies present in Dorset are:
Portland Port is the home port for Global Marine Systems Limited
Download a copy of our short guide to Dorset's Marine sector.
Further information / proposition
Invest In Dorset has created many documents as part of its Advanced Engineering & Manufacturing proposition:
There is sector-specific assistance available from the following sources: