Receipt of this award recognises the consistently high level of performance and commitment demonstrated by the GKN Aerospace team at the site. This ‘Best Performing Supplier’ award follows receipt of the 2013 ‘Most Improved Supplier’ award by the site - the result of significant industrial performance enhancements achieved working with Airbus during 2012.

Across its international operation GKN Aerospace has been an important supplier to Airbus for over two decades, with the activity increasing as GKN Aerospace has grown in size and capability to become the global tier one supplier it is today. Sales to Airbus represent approximately 20% of GKN Aerospace’s total annual turnover of GBP2.2bn and the company supports almost all Airbus aircraft programmes with products ranging from complex composite and metallic airframe and engine structures to advanced cockpit and cabin transparencies.

A380 inner wing spar, produced at GKN Aerospace, Filton

“To receive both ‘most improved supplier’ and then ‘best performing supplier’ from Airbus in just 24 months is an excellent achievement for us.” said John Pritchard, Vice President and Managing Director - Metallics, GKN Aerospace. “Our entire workforce - at Filton and globally - is committed to delivering excellence to our customers. We have embedded robust practices and created a customer-focused culture that have delivered significant, measurable performance benefits. It is extremely satisfying for us all - and our Filton team in particular - to see the site recognised with such an important customer award.”

GKN Aerospace in Filton produces major structural sub-assemblies, precision machined components and advanced systems for all variants of Airbus aircraft. The site employs over 1700 of the GKN Aerospace’s worldwide total of 12,000 staff and is a global market leader in the design and manufacture of aircraft wing structures for a number of customers including Airbus, Dassault and Lockheed Martin.