As the UK marks National Engineering Day on November 13th, ANT Industries, based in Atherstone, Warwickshire, is celebrating the region’s pivotal role in shaping the future of aerospace manufacturing and engineering excellence. Organised by the Royal Academy of Engineering, National Engineering Day forms part of the “This is Engineering” campaign, which aims to raise the visibility of engineers, celebrate their impact on daily life, and inspire a more diverse future generation to pursue careers in the field.
For Shaun Rowley, Managing Director of ANT Industries, the day is an opportunity to reflect on both the heritage and the future of British engineering — and to celebrate the region that continues to lead from the front.
“You only need to look at businesses like ANT Industries and the wonderful manufacturing and engineering firms in and around Coventry and Warwickshire to see the depth of aerospace capability here,” says Rowley. “We’ve got OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, and world-class R&D institutions all working within a few miles of each other. It’s an incredible environment for innovation and collaboration.”
The Midlands remains one of the world’s most dynamic aerospace regions. With the UK holding a 17% share of the global aerospace market, Coventry and Warwickshire are at its heart — home to over 3,500 transport technology businesses employing more than 52,000 people across aerospace, automotive, and advanced manufacturing.
Major players such as Rolls-Royce, Meggitt, and Lisi Aerospace operate alongside local specialists like Nasmyth, Arrowsmith, JJ Churchill, Sigma, and ANT Industries, which manufactures high-precision rings, casings, and prismatic components for gas turbine engines and airframes.
“This region has an infrastructure that’s genuinely world-class,” Rowley continues. “When you combine the R&D strength of Warwick Manufacturing Group, the MTC, and Coventry University with the skills base coming through local training academies, you’ve got a complete ecosystem that supports the entire aerospace supply chain — from concept and design to precision manufacture.”
“Skills are everything in this industry,” Rowley explains. “As aerospace technology evolves — with light-weighting, electrification, and digital manufacturing — we need people with the right expertise. The local education ecosystem gives us access to a constant stream of talent, which is absolutely vital for companies like ours.”
Founded in Atherstone, ANT Industries has built a global reputation for precision machining and component manufacture in the aerospace and gas turbine sectors. Its success, Rowley says, is rooted in precision, reliability, and a deep understanding of customer requirements — all supported by the strength of its regional network.
“Being based in Warwickshire gives us access to exceptional skills, supply chain partners, and research collaboration — everything we need to keep developing and competing globally.”
As the UK looks toward a more sustainable and technologically advanced aerospace future, Rowley sees the region’s combination of history, innovation, and collaboration as its enduring advantage.
“This is one of the best places in the world to be in aerospace and on day’s like this, we are proud to call ourselves engineers,” he concludes. “There’s history here, there’s innovation, and there’s a genuine sense of momentum. The future of flight is being shaped right here in our region — and we’re proud to be part of it.”