The Isle of Man Aerospace Cluster (IOMAC) has announced its three-year Cluster Strategy outlining a number of key objectives that it aims to achieve by 2020.

The Department of Economic Development is one of the seven public and private sector organisations that make up the IOMAC’s committee. The new strategy focuses on promoting and developing Isle of Man aerospace companies in order to achieve global recognition for its performance, competence, infrastructure and environment. The strategy also focuses on objectives to help sustain its international market leading position within high technology and aerospace industries.

Lawrie Hooper MHK, Department member with responsibility for Manufacturing commented:

‘The launch of the 2017 to 2020 Cluster Strategy is a great opportunity to highlight the success of the IOMAC over the past decade. It’s with this success that we’ve been able to plan the three year Strategy going forward, recognising the need for development in areas such as supporting infrastructure on the Island and increasing awareness of the sector locally and internationally through marketing and PR.’

IOMAC’s objective is to create a range of services to help enable cluster members to facilitate continuous improvement of their businesses in pursuit of world-class standards as well as to set a minimum standard for the cluster. This works alongside the Programme for Government’s policy of working to better understand, support and contribute to the quality and professionalism within each sector.

Adrian Moore, Cluster Chairman and Manager commented:

‘I have been working within the precision engineering and aerospace sector for over 30 years and have seen the sector develop substantially on the Island. Over the last 10 years the IOMAC has increased by 30% and now has over 885 full time member employees on the Isle of Man. Since it was founded in 2006, IOMAC members have also notched up 21 industry winner or finalist awards, a stat we are extremely proud of and will continue to live up to.

‘Working closely with the North West Aerospace Alliance (NWAA) has proven to be very beneficial to the IOMAC and we are now recognised as an important cog in the North West and UK supply chain. I look forward to leading the IOMAC to implement this renewed strategy’s objectives over the coming years.’

Read the full 2017-2020 Cluster Strategy report in the site library.