Brilliant Burnley is an advanced manufacturing super town

The figures form part of the new Invest in Burnley campaign, which showcases some of the many reasons why the town is a business force to be reckoned with.

In total, these major sectors and all of their sub sectors, including aerospace and automotive, account for 7,000 jobs in Burnley – approximately 20% of total jobs in the town

Neil Hart, chairman of Burnley Bondholders and chief executive of Burnley FC, said: “It’s fantastic to see our town’s advanced manufacturing and engineering sector remaining strong. Of course, all sectors have faced various challenges as a result of the pandemic, but to have a fifth of jobs in this sector is testament to the innovation seen in Burnley.

“With three international airports an hour away, a convenient location off the M65 and the Liverpool SuperPort in close proximity, it’s no wonder why so many esteemed engineering and manufacturing companies choose to have a base in Burnley.”

Burnley’s central location in the North West means it is at the heart of the wider regional advanced engineering cluster. The North West aerospace cluster is the biggest in Europe, contributing £7 billion to the UK economy - 25% of UK aerospace turnover.

The town’s industrial rents and labour costs are significantly lower than some of the other clusters in this sector in other parts of the country. It is home to some of the most important players in the industry, including Safran Nacelles, Velocity Composites and Paradigm Precision .

Leading advanced manufacturers based in Burnley include AMS Neve, BCW Engineering and VEKA plc. All are leaders in their fields and innovative in their approach. Burnley’s average labour costs are 12.5% lower than national average.

Supported by Burnley’s attractive transport and logistics networks, the automotive sector is home to names such as Fort Vale Engineering and Futaba Manufacturing.

The North produces 500,000 passenger cars every year, representing over 40% of the UK’s total. As a whole, the UK is home to six mainstream car manufacturers, 11 engine manufacturers, seven major sports car and premium manufacturers and 20 research and design centres – not to mention more than 2,400 suppliers.

Burnley’s prime central position in the UK makes it a convenient location for automotive companies.