Another packed episode of The Manufacturer Podcast this week, as we dive into one of the biggest stories in UK aerospace and defence manufacturing. After months of uncertainty, Leonardo Helicopters in Yeovil has finally secured its long-awaited £1bn contract from the UK Ministry of Defence. (MoD)
Under the agreement, the company will build 23 next-generation AW149 medium helicopters at its Yeovil facility — the UK’s last remaining military helicopter factory. The announcement brings a major sense of relief for the region and for the wider British aerospace sector, as the deal safeguards thousands of highly skilled jobs both at the Somerset site and across the domestic supply chain.
For much of the year, however, the future of the programme looked far from certain. Questions had been mounting around the timing of the contract award and what delays might mean for the long-term viability of helicopter manufacturing in the UK. In this episode, we explore why the decision took so long to reach the finish line, what it means for the future of the Yeovil plant, and how significant this investment could be for maintaining sovereign capability in defence manufacturing.
Elsewhere in the episode, we bring you an interview with Carl Perrin, Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research at Coventry University. Carl represents one of the organisations helping to deliver the Supply Chain Transition Programme — the series sponsors for the podcast.
In our conversation, Carl explains how small and medium-sized manufacturers can successfully diversify into new sectors at a time when supply chains are shifting rapidly. He shares practical advice for SMEs looking to adapt their capabilities, highlights some impressive real-world success stories, and outlines the support that exists to help businesses navigate the transition. For companies wondering how to future-proof their operations, this discussion offers plenty of insight and inspiration.
We also run through the latest headlines from The Manufacturer across both the UK and the United States. The newest S&P Global PMI survey suggests steady growth in the UK manufacturing sector, providing cautious optimism despite the wider economic uncertainty.
Across the Atlantic, however, the picture is somewhat less encouraging. US manufacturing growth has slowed to its weakest level in seven months, with falling export demand, tariff pressures and weather-related disruption all contributing to the downturn. We unpack what these trends mean for global manufacturing and how they could influence supply chains in the months ahead.
Regular contributor Sam Cain joins us once again with his weekly Shopfloor Whisper. This time, the theme is war — and the complicated impact global conflict can have on manufacturers. While geopolitical tension can open doors for some businesses, particularly those involved in defence supply chains, it also creates significant challenges for many others. Sam offers his perspective on how manufacturers continue to adapt in turbulent conditions, and why service providers should recognise the sector’s resilience and back it with confidence.
And finally, we round things off with another entry in our Made by a Moron segment — featuring a hotel that somehow thought it was a good idea to install window blinds… in rooms that don’t actually have windows.
All that and more in the latest episode of The Manufacturer Podcast.
