West Midlands Set to Lead the UK's Aviation Revolution

By Anushka Malhotra

1 minute 24 seconds

Growth

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Quick Read: The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) highlights the West Midlands as a key player in the nation's aviation future, recognising its aerospace expertise and innovative efforts in drone technology.

The West Midlands is emerging as a critical hub in the UK's evolving aviation sector, following a recent roundtable discussion hosted by Sir Stephen Hillier, Chair of the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). During the event, Hillier acknowledged the region's significant contributions to the upcoming aviation revolution, particularly in the safe integration of drone technology into urban areas.

Credit: UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)

The meeting, held on 26 September, brought together leading aerospace companies from across the Midlands, underscoring the region's robust aerospace heritage. The Midlands Aerospace Alliance, one of the world’s largest aerospace networks, was praised for its ongoing work in advancing drone usage, thanks to its collaboration with local companies that manufacture a variety of aircraft components and provide essential services to the aerospace industry.

“Aviation is changing like never before, and the West Midlands can rely on its rich aerospace history to be at the forefront of this new revolution”

said Hillier during a tour of Collins Aerospace’s Actuation Systems facility in Wolverhampton. The tour also showcased the company's advanced training facilities that use augmented reality technology and offered a chance to meet apprentices working on next-generation innovations.

In addition to supporting the region’s aerospace industry, the Drone Ready Cities project—led by the Midlands Aerospace Alliance and Coventry City Council—is laying the groundwork for the expansion of drone usage across the UK. The initiative is backed by funding from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) via the Regulators’ Pioneer Fund.

The potential of drones is already becoming a reality, with trials for transporting medical supplies, such as blood samples, receiving airspace approval in London. As these technologies develop, industry leaders emphasise the need for ongoing collaboration.

“It’s vital that supply chain companies can communicate their priorities and challenges to key aviation stakeholders,”

said Andrew Mair, Chief Executive of the Midlands Aerospace Alliance, emphasising the importance of industry-wide partnerships.

With its aerospace expertise and forward-thinking initiatives, the West Midlands is positioned to play a central role in the UK’s aviation transformation.

What's new

West Midlands Health Tech Innovation Accelerator Unlocks Nearly £50M in Private Investment

The West Midlands Health Tech Innovation Accelerator (WMHTIA), led by the University of Birmingham, has generated an impressive £49.4 million in private co-investment within its first two years, significantly surpassing its original £14.5 million public funding allocation.

Funded through the Innovation Accelerator programme, coordinated by Innovate UK, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, and UK Research and Innovation, WMHTIA has become a leading force in advancing health technology innovation across the region.

The majority of the private investment—£36.3 million—was directly committed by investors to enterprises supported by the Accelerator. This achievement represents a threefold return on the initial public investment, demonstrating the strong investor confidence in the region’s health tech sector.

Powering Health Innovation Through Collaboration

The WMHTIA brings together 21 partners from academia, industry, and the NHS to help healthtech companies develop, validate, and commercialise cutting-edge medical technologies. So far, companies supported through the programme have also secured an additional £10 million in national public grants from agencies including NIHR, Eureka, and Innovate UK.

Including both public and private contributions, the total investment leveraged by WMHTIA now stands at £67.3 million.

Professor Adam Tickell, Vice-Chancellor, University of Birmingham:

We’re proud to support startups through the riskiest stages of innovation so more life-saving technologies reach patients. This exceptional investment proves what’s possible when academia, the NHS, and industry work together to drive economic growth and better health outcomes.

In March 2025, the Innovation Accelerator programme was extended with a further £30 million, including £4 million for the WMHTIA to continue supporting the region’s innovators in 2025/26.

Backing the Future of Health Tech

Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands:

The West Midlands is leading medical tech innovation—from faster diagnoses to shorter hospital stays. Healthtech isn’t just improving lives; it’s creating secure, high-value jobs that drive inclusive growth.

Dean Cook, Executive Director of Place and Global, Innovate UK:

This programme shows how place-based innovation can unlock greater business investment in R&D. By connecting the region’s strengths, we’re creating high-value jobs and building globally significant innovation capability.

The WMHTIA continues to strengthen the region’s reputation as a national hub for health technology, with far-reaching benefits for patient care, job creation, and regional economic development.

By Anushka Malhotra

24 Jun