Earlier this year, ADS South West joined the ADS Group to provide businesses in the region with dedicated networking, business development and advocacy support. Since then, the team has gone from strength to strength – under the expert leadership of Director Ed Raggett. We sat down with him to discuss his thoughts on the role six(ish) months on…
Six months on! How has the role taken shape?
My role is to represent and support the aerospace, defence, security and space sectors across the region. ADS South West was created to give members a dedicated regional presence, ensuring local priorities and capabilities are understood and reflected within ADS, Government and wider industry.
In practice, that means spending a lot of time on the road! Over the last six months, I’ve travelled from Cornwall to Gloucestershire, meeting businesses of all sizes, listening to the issues they face and identifying where ADS can help. Sometimes that’s making introductions, sometimes it’s creating supply chain development opportunities, and sometimes it’s simply ensuring our members voice is heard.
Having previously worked as Head of Business Development within ADS’ Aerospace team, this role has given me the opportunity to broaden our support across all four sectors. As someone who grew up in the West Country and has spent much of my career working with businesses in the region, it’s particularly rewarding to be helping shape the future of an area I care deeply about.
What does membership actually mean for businesses in the South West?
The core purpose of ADS South West is to bring ADS closer to its members and provide enhanced levels of support and engagement. One of our key aims from the outset was not to have a separate regional membership, but rather ensure ADS members, can access the regional offering.
Since launch, we have delivered 17 events and engagements across the region, providing members with opportunities to connect with customers, partners and policymakers, as well as creating regional events and activities. But it is also about ensuring members in the region are aware of the wider portfolio of ADS events and services that are available to them – and how they can specifically support their business.
Ultimately, we are here to make ADS more accessible, more relevant and more valuable for organisations operating in the region.
What has been your biggest challenge?
The biggest challenge has been making sure we remain relevant to every part of the region. The needs of a defence SME in Plymouth can be very different from those of an aerospace manufacturer in Bristol, or a space company in Cornwall. Building a regional organisation that reflects all of those perspectives takes time, but it’s also what makes the role so interesting.
We have greatly benefited from the experience of the team that transferred in under ADS South West, building on and enhancing our portfolio of offerings. One of the real advantages of becoming part of ADS has been the opportunity to connect with and draw on the support of colleagues across the wider organisation. Their willingness to share knowledge, contacts and best practice has been invaluable as we establish ADS South West. We’ve also been aided by the enthusiasm and support of members throughout the transition and establishment of ADS South West, which has made the challenge far easier to tackle.
Go on… what’s been the best bit?!
One of the most satisfying aspects of the last six months has been moving from setting up ADS South West to delivering activity. We’ve supported members at Farnborough International Airshow through the ADS South West Pavilion; brought companies together through regional cluster meetings hosted by organisations including Dowty, GKN, Anduril, TKMS Atlas and Rolls-Royce; delivered the ADS Aircraft Interiors Conference in Yeovil; and launched a series of CEO & Managing Director sector leadership dinners.
Supported by the wider ADS team, we have been engaging with key regional stakeholders, from MPs and local government to primes, regional cluster groups, academia and Catapult Centres, all with the aim of delivering value for our members.
All of our activities showcase the value that regional support can provide. Importantly, they create new conversations, connections, collaborations and opportunities for members.
What do you think is special about the South West?
What makes the South West unique is the way different capabilities sit alongside one another. We’re home to major aerospace programmes, critical national security capabilities, world-leading advanced manufacturing companies, cyber and security expertise, and a growing space sector. Few regions can offer the breadth and scale that the South West can.
The 2026 ADS Industry Facts and Figures shows the extent to which companies in our sectors serve as the industrial bedrock of the UK – delivering the well-paid jobs and high-tech exports we need to secure a prosperous future. The graphic below highlights the size and impact of the South West. In aerospace and defence, across the metrics of Employees, Turnover and Value Add, the South West ranges between 16–17% (aerospace) and 5–6% (defence) higher than the next-ranked region.
What’s to come?
Looking ahead, I’m excited about the opportunities to bring people together in new ways. We’re developing the South West Advisory Council, progressing plans for a regional Supply Chain Cluster and strengthening our engagement with government and industry partners through the Strategic Engagement Forum.
I am excited about our flagship annual events that we have coming up. The ADS South West Annual Gala Dinner and Making a Difference Awards in October is going to be a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our members. The Annual Conference in April 2027 will help to further establish ADS South West as a crucial convener of regional industry, bringing together industry, policymakers, academia and key stakeholders to address shared challenges and seize new opportunities.
ADS South West can become a genuine focal point for collaboration, helping businesses share knowledge, access opportunities and address common challenges together.
What is your vision for ADS South West and where would you like to see it in the future?
My vision is simple. I want ADS South West to be the first place organisations turn to when they want to engage with the region’s aerospace, defence, security and space sectors.
In practical terms, that means building a strong, connected membership community that helps businesses grow, collaborate and influence the issues that matter most to them.
Over the next few years, I’d like to see ADS South West recognised as a trusted voice for industry, delivering meaningful programmes that support supply chain development, skills, innovation and engagement with government.
Most importantly, I want members to feel that ADS South West belongs to them and reflects the priorities of the businesses it exists to support. My door is always open!
