The iAero Centre welcomed occupants including Morson Projects, Leonardo Helicopters, and many more local businesses, to celebrate the one year anniversary of their opening.

The event showcased and celebrated the best of innovation and growth across the Aerospace sector, having opened back in 2022 as a purpose-built research, design and innovation facility.

mages: The Morson Projects team catching up with Leonardo and their MD, Adam Clarke

Our iAero journey…

With existing offices in Bristol and Yeovil, the team fell in love with the iAero building back in 2022 and knew straight away that it would help them to service their Leonardo commitments.

Before taking a tenancy, the team utilised the Centre to deliver intensive upskilling and Leonardo familiarisation training course to a cohort of eight ex-forces personnel. The training course sought to re-train former helicopter engineers as Technical Authors, a role required by Morson Projects to write Technical Support Documents for their Leonardo contract.  A further two cohorts are planned to be delivered at the Centre. 

Becky Veal, Associate Director shared:

“Having been working closely with the iAero Centre since it’s opening, the Centre has been providing an excellent environment to deliver our training courses, as well as providing trainees with the exposure to the Leonardo site and a better understanding of the product”.

Since taking up the tenancy in May 2023, the team has also experienced an increase in collaborative activity with both Leonardo and other businesses. 

“Morson Projects have been working with one of our key clients, Leonardo for over 30 years and have more than 160 people deployed in support of the partnership. In March 2023 we signed a long-term Strategic Partnering Agreement (SPA) with Leonardo which will enable the UK’s only onshore helicopter manufacturer to offload engineering work to augment the company’s highly skilled engineering team. 

“Since moving into an office at iAero in May 2023, we now have the collaborative workspace that we did not have before. We can host meetings here and have informal conversations with members of the Leonardo team as they come in and out of the building.  The office also provides a touch down point for colleagues from other offices to work from when visiting Leonardo.”

Images: Morson Projects Director, Gareth Beck, presenting on ‘Innovation in Aerospace’

The Centre’s events and networking opportunities also enhanced our capability to host clients and collaborate with other local businesses:

“It is encouraging to meet new businesses with new ideas that they want to bring into the industry.  It is exciting to think about how we can integrate these innovations into our programmes of work.”

The iAero also offers benefits of being able to access the collaborative technology available at the Centre (including 3D printing) as well as providing an opportunity to disseminate new ideas and technologies from the rest of the UK throughout the South West which is of huge benefit to the Aerospace & Defence sector.

Furthermore, with a nationally recognised STEM Ambassadors programme, Morson Projects has ambitious plans to work collaboratively with local schools and colleges to support the delivery of the STEM education in the area and support the growth of the young talent required by the industry in the future.

Image: Some of our engineering team with Morson Group CEO, Ged Mason