2021 was one other memorable yr for everybody and for all types of causes. We had a bumpy restoration from the worst of the Covid pandemic, however the automotive business was additionally hammered by a scarcity of semiconductor elements. In your corporation, what stand out as the largest challenges you confronted this yr?
2020 was a very robust yr when the Covid restrictions have been at their strictest and the business put many programmes on maintain. However in 2021 we’ve got seen an enormous pickup in enterprise, and due to this, recruitment of expert engineers to satisfy this demand has been one of many largest points. Our engineering workforce is now 50% bigger than it was in January. Added to that we, like everybody one else, have been impacted by the worldwide provide chain points with delays and rising prices having a big impression.
Any excessive spots or specific successes you’d prefer to share?
We have now seen an enormous bounce again after 2020. Certainly, our companies have been in such excessive demand, that we’ve got been within the place of getting to show some work away. This has meant we’ve got been in a position to deal with the tasks the place we will actually add most worth; the place our expertise of having the ability to fast-track programmes and switch ideas into actuality have allowed us to assist our clients convey their merchandise to market faster. The Volta electrical truck is a superb instance of how we’ve got helped them quickly develop prototype and demonstrator autos to allow them to be first to market with their 16-tonne city supply car.
Whereas historically automotive has been our mainstay, it now most likely represents 50% of our enterprise. We have now seen specific development within the business aviation sector, defence and likewise with the growing variety of start-up companies who’re coming to us as a result of we will additionally work on the tempo they demand.
How are you feeling about 2022 – each when it comes to enterprise prospects and extra usually?
The prospects for our enterprise are wanting superb. We have now a powerful order ebook and are persevering with to recruit so as to meet the demand. We have now some very fascinating tasks from photo voltaic powered automobiles to autonomous defence autos; the type of tasks the place we will mix our vary of technical expertise with our core competence of working at tempo and quickly turning ideas into working prototypes.
The provision chain is wanting more likely to proceed to be a difficulty all through 2022 and past. Thankfully for the manufacturing programmes we’ve got, we will make a lot of the precision elements inside our personal facility or supply from throughout the UK, so whereas it’s going to have an effect, we’re in a position to minimise it.
