This is Wales: Invested in the Future of Advanced Manufacturing
From the Airbus wing production facilities in Broughton to Toyota’s engine plant in Deeside, Wales is home to global names and transformative businesses that deliver real-world impact across aerospace, automotive, defence, renewables, and health tech. The sector boasts over 5,775 businesses and a vibrant SME ecosystem supporting global supply chains and innovation.
The numbers say it all: £14bn in manufacturing exports in 2023, 150,000 people employed in skilled roles, and a GVA share nearly double the UK average. Wales’ Advanced Manufacturing Sector is built on outcomes you can see right now, with strengths grounded in major global sectors:
- Aerospace: Home of Airbus’s wing manufacturing and a robust cluster of supply chain partners.
- Automotive: Major production from Toyota and Aston Martin boosting Wales’ reputation for quality and innovation.
- Defence: General Dynamics and Raytheon facilities anchor important high-value sites.
- Semiconductors: The globally recognised South Wales cluster spearheads UK capabilities in 5G, EV, and next-gen electronics.
- Space and Emerging Tech: Home to companies like Space Forge and sector-pioneering SMEs.
- Rail: A growing cluster anchored by the Global Centre of Rail Excellence and major rolling stock and infrastructure projects, positioning Wales as a testbed for next-generation, net-zero rail technologies.
Jacqui Murray, Director, South Wales HVM Catapult comments on the breadth of Welsh manufacturing, "Wales supplies the world, exporting everything from high-performance aircraft wings to medical devices and precision electronics. Recognised as a leading centre for advanced manufacturing in the UK and Europe, Wales builds on a foundation of innovation, technical expertise and decades of proven delivery."
Collaboration and Research: The true Welsh Advantage
Wales’ universities and colleges work hand-in-hand with industry, producing over 275,000 skilled graduates annually. Collaboration is more than a buzzword here. The Welsh ecosystem brings together academia’s internationally recognised research institutions (Cardiff, Swansea, Wrexham), industry clusters and innovation hubs like AMRC Cymru and the Catapult network, alongside an agile and responsive devolved government that provides tailored funding, quick decisions and hands-on support to catalyse real business growth. All united in a fast-moving network that consistently exceeds expectations.
Apprenticeships, on-the-job coaching, and community collaboration are also hallmarks, ensuring both established and incoming firms can recruit, train, and scale at pace.
Many initiatives, such as the Toyota Lean programme, which is co-funded by government, boost productivity across businesses of all sizes, from global multinationals to agile SMEs.
“Wales is a very optimistic nation... We have this resilience and positivity - and we’ve got an ecosystem that I know is not the same in other regions. There is a culture that we have in Wales that we use to our advantage without even knowing we’re doing it.” Explains Janis Richards, Membership Director, Make UK.
Connected and Competitive
Playing host to vibrant innovation zones, key freeports, and investment corridors Wales offers globally competitive costs for property, facilities, and workforce, in both thriving city and digitally connected rural environments.
Recent landmark investments, such as Aston Martin’s vehicle manufacturing expansion, GE Aerospace Wales’ high-value jobs creation, or Space Forge’s work in low-Earth orbit manufacturing, demonstrate the tangible opportunities for investors and partners. These projects underscore Wales’ leading position in automation, digitisation, and the clean energy transition.
GCRE: Building the Future of Rail, Sustainability, and Innovation
At the Global Centre of Rail Excellence (GCRE), Wales is developing one of Europe’s most advanced rail testing and innovation facilities, a 700-hectare living laboratory for net-zero mobility, digital signalling, and new rolling stock solutions. Built on a former coal site, the project stands as a symbol of Wales’ transition from heavy industry to high-value, low-carbon innovation, offering investors a unique environment to design, trial and scale future rail technologies.
“As a national asset, GCRE gives industry something it hasn’t had before, a dedicated place to test, prove and de-risk new rail technologies at full scale, in one location in Wales.” comments Simon Jones, GCRE Chief Executive Officer.
A Nation Ready for the Next Revolution
Wales combines decades of advanced expertise with a hunger for the future. Our ambitious nation is driving growth in decarbonisation, digital transformation, and cross-sector innovation from floating offshore wind and sustainable manufacturing to robotics and AI integration.
"Wales can really help companies leap forward, we help them de-risk and accelerate innovation, supporting transformative change. In tough times, that really drives us to invent and innovate, and the complexity of 2025 means if we really want to put ourselves back on a world stage, we have to move forward rapidly and collaboratively." Murray comments further.
It’s clear to the sector that Wales offers unique advantages: quick access to decision-makers, flexible incentives, and a true culture of partnership.
Outcomes here have a purpose: high-value, high-paid jobs, new skills built for the future, and a sector that actively contributes to decarbonisation, digital leadership, and global competitiveness. The result? Investors find a business-friendly environment where decisions are quick, partnerships flourish, and innovation happens naturally. From SMEs to global corporates, Wales offers bespoke support and a culture that values both resilience and open collaboration
For investors, manufacturers, and ambitious partners, Wales offers not just a place for business but a springboard for growth and innovation. With world-class clusters, outstanding connectivity, and a pioneering spirit, this is a location to build a legacy, grow returns, and join a nation invested in both economic and societal progress.
Wales is not waiting for the next industrial revolution. We’re leading it. Join us.
