NAA news: Greater levels of automotive cross-border collaboration announced between England and Wales
As Britain debates whether it should remain or exit from the European Union, two organisations have announced greater levels of cross-border collaboration…
The Northern Automotive Alliance (NAA) and the Welsh Automotive Forum (WAF) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enable the two cluster organisations to work together more effectively for mutual benefit.
The MoU acknowledges that the border between England and Wales isn’t a barrier for people and organisations doing business, and that from now on companies working in the automotive sector in Wales can benefit from opportunities with the NAA, and companies in England can benefit from the WAF.
The joint objectives of the MoU are:
- To enable cross-border participation in events and activities undertaken by both cluster groups
- To organise joint events where it is appropriate to do so
- To enable joint bids for funding where it is beneficial for members of both clusters.
Carol Holden OBE, Chief Executive of the Northern Automotive Alliance, says: “Two big issues in the industry at the moment are the opportunities for growth of automotive supply chain companies, and the opportunities for growth of our regional economies. By working with the Welsh Automotive Forum we can maximise our support for both Northern and Welsh automotive supply chain companies, with subsequent economic benefits.”
Tim Williams, Chief Executive of the Welsh Automotive Forum, adds: “The Welsh automotive industry is enjoying unprecedented success at the moment, with recent announcements about new factories for both Aston Martin and TVR. This will lead to opportunities for many supply base companies, and I anticipate that working more closely with the Northern Automotive Alliance will help to increase the proportion of components sourced from Wales and the North of England for UK car manufacturing.”
The Northern Automotive Alliance helps to support and nurture supply chain companies in the region to grow into larger businesses, in order to strengthen the upstream supply chain in the UK. In the most recent members’ survey, the NAA, which has been established for 12 years, was overwhelmingly described as useful, effective and reliable, consistently delivering what it says it will deliver.
The Welsh Automotive Forum was established as an independent company over 15 years ago in response to the break-up of the Rover Group and its implications for the supply chain. It has since evolved into the representative and campaigning body for the automotive industry in Wales, with over 140 member companies employing 18,000 people and £3.2 billion sales. In addition to its lobbying role, WAF seeks to develop a continuous improvement philosophy and encourage adoption of the latest technology, with world-class efficiencies and quality standards.
