Aviation giant chooses Bristol for new UK base

By Rob Buckland
May 25, 2010

French aerospace engineering firm Aeroconseil, which works closely with European aviation giant Airbus in Germany and Spain, has chosen Bristol as the home for its new UK headquarters.

Aeroconseil, whch has opened the office on the Brabazon Business Park, near Airbus’s giant Filton wing design plant, is looking to build a team of up to 50 people over the next two years. It is already advertising for engineers and technicians.

The firm employs 1,050 people worldwide with offices in France, Germany, Spain and Canada and has annual sales or more than 100 million euros (£94.5m).

Its bases in Hamburg, Germany, and Getafe, Spain, work with nearby Airbus plants on landing gear projects, although the group offers a range of engineering services to its aerospace customers from the design to operation of aircarft.

Aeroconseil said it expected its Bristol HQ to win contracts not only with Airbus but other West firms.

Airbus’s Filton plant designed the landing gear for the A380 superjumbo.

Didier Reboul, UK director at Aeroconseil and a former Airbus purchasing department manager, said: “Setting up a UK headquarters is a strategically significant move for the company and we feel Bristol is absolutely the right place to be.

“We are now perfectly positioned to support the network of aerospace companies in the region, including Airbus.

“We are confident that we can recruit talented engineers and will be working closely with the South West RDA (regional development agency) and other partner organisations to help establish our foundations in the city and wider region.”

The RDA has been working with the British Embassy in Paris to attract the Aeroconseil to Bristol, promoting the city’s strengths in the aerospace sector.

James McNaughton, RDA international investment team manager, said: “This move adds to the increasing level of inward investment from other parts of Europe, particularly in the aerospace and clean technology industries, over the past six months. It is an encouraging sign for the regional economy that we are attracting large, international players.”