The North West Aerospace alliance will receive funding for its new supply chain excellence programme 2 (ASCE) from the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) and the Northwest European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) programme.

ASCE2 will build on ASCE1, which is the first coordinated approach to supplier development in the aerospace sector in the UK, according to NWAA.

ASCE2 aims to secure a competitive base of small and medium enterprises by providing skills, innovation, shared services, creating commodity groups and extended enterprise.

The programme will help the supply chain to compete in a global industry and win contracts with the main manufacturers.

The project will be led and managed by the NWAA and industry partners will include BAE Systems, Airbus UK, Rolls-Royce along with academia.