Lancashire Champions the Future of Advanced Manufacturing with Watchtower 2 Milestone
Celebrating Lancashire’s Innovation, Collaboration, and Growth
Over 70 guests from across Lancashire’s SME aerospace and advanced engineering (AEM) community came together at Burnley College to celebrate the successful completion of the Watchtower 2 Programme — an ambitious initiative that has strengthened the region’s digital capability, sustainability focus, and industrial resilience.
Delivered by NWAA, Aerospace Consulting, Riscon, and funded by Lancashire County Council, Watchtower 2 built on the achievements of the original Watchtower Programme launched post pandemic. Over 12 months, the project has supported more than 100 Lancashire businesses, hosted 22 events and webinars, 4 of which specialised on the ESG journey, delivered by ESG3 on behalf of NWAA and then delivered one-to-one innovation and diversification support to 20 companies across the county.
Championing Lancashire’s Manufacturing Future
At the celebration, Paul Bell, Watchtower Programme Lead at NWAA, and David Bailey, Watchtower Delivery Specialist from Aerospace Consulting reflected on the programme’s achievements and future direction:
“Watchtower 2 has shown what can happen when Lancashire’s aerospace and advanced engineering community works together — embracing sustainability, digitalisation, and diversification to strengthen the county’s industrial future.” Paul Bell, NWAA
Attendees heard how Watchtower 2’s “Growth Accelerator” project has shaped strategic priorities for Lancashire’s £7 billion Advanced Engineering and Manufacturing opportunity (2025–2035) — feeding directly into Lancashire’s Growth Plan and the UK Government’s Modern Industrial Strategy 2035.
Celebrating the Businesses That Took Part
NWAA recognised and celebrated the companies that participated in Watchtower 2, each receiving a Watchtower Diversification Certificate for their commitment to innovation and transformation.
Participating companies included:
K&M Precision Engineering, MAD CNC, Clitheroe Light Engineering, GA Engineering Group, Mayco Construction, NextGen Engineering, CRC Evans, FDM Digital Solutions, Olsen Actuators, Tek-Neek, Oil Recoveries, Hurst Green Plastics Home of Twin Bin, Fylde CNC, ASCO Engineering, Ribble Technology, AMP-EV, Silcoms, Xacom, G Parker Engineering & Process Treatments
These businesses collectively represent the strength and diversity of Lancashire’s AEM ecosystem — spanning aerospace, defence, energy, automotive, and digital manufacturing.
A Vision for Lancashire’s Next Decade
The event also unveiled the Watchtower Vision 2035:
“Build a Strong and Sustainable Manufacturing Sector – Prioritise, Protect, and Prosper.”
This forward-looking strategy identifies major growth opportunities including the AUKUS submarine programme, Global Combat Air Programme, Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), Power4Space, National Cyber Force, and the Zero-Emission HGV supply chain — all of which offer significant potential for Lancashire suppliers.
Thanking Our Partners
NWAA and Aerospace Consulting expressed sincere thanks to Lancashire County Council for funding the Watchtower initiative, and to Burnley College for hosting the celebration event. Their partnership and continued investment have been pivotal in enabling Lancashire businesses to adapt, diversify, and grow in a rapidly changing industrial landscape.
“The collaboration between public sector support, academia, and industry has been the backbone of Watchtower’s success. Lancashire is well-positioned to lead the UK in sustainable, high-value manufacturing.” David Bailey, Aerospace Consulting
Looking Ahead
Following the success of Watchtower 2, NWAA continues to work with its partners to scope Watchtower 3, with a focus on skills development, energy transition, and supply chain resilience ensuring Lancashire’s aerospace and advanced engineering sector remains globally competitive for years to come.
For more information:
Please contact Paul Bell, Watchtower Programme Lead at NWAA E: paul.bell@aerospace.co.uk
