Vertical Aerospace has set out plans with Skyports Infrastructure and Bristow Group to launch the UK’s first electric air-taxi routes between Canary Wharf and major transport hubs such as Heathrow, Gatwick, Cambridge and Oxford. The new routes, planned to launch in 2029,would cut multi-hour road journeys to minutes by air, targeting Canary Wharf to Heathrow in just 12 minutes

The announcement was made as Vertical Aerospace unveiled Valo, a piloted, four-passenger electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft that will fly up to 100 miles at up to 150 mph. Valowill produce zero operating emissions and carry certification with the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the European Aviation Safety Authority (EASA). Vertical has circa 1500 pre-orders of Valo and targets producing 225+ aircraft annually by Q4 2030.

More information www.vertical-aerospace.com

GKN Aerospace is entering a new strategic teaming agreement with autonomous platform provider Anduril Industries UK that will accelerate the development of advanced uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAV) and rotorcraft technologies for UK defence programmes. The partnership will target key UK contracts expected in early 2026, delivering modern capability while reinforcing the UK’s sovereign industrial base.

The signing ceremony took place last month at GKN Aerospace’s Cowes facility, where much of the work will be delivered following the company’s recent £10m investment in the site. Isle of Wight West MP Richard Quigley attended the event to emphasise the importance of such partnerships for the UK’s manufacturing sector and support the potential for more than 100 new jobs on the Island through future work packages.

More information www.gknaerospace.com

Sheffield Forgemasters has awarded a major machine shop construction project, valued at £210m, to McLaughlin & Harvey.The machine shop will sit on a 16-acre brownfield site at Weedon Street, adjacent to Sheffield Forgemasters’Brightside Lane facilities, where a 30,000 m² building will house 24 new machines, including some of the world’s largest vertical turning lathes.

McLaughlin & Harvey has already completed enabling works and is underway with piling for the building superstructure, machine foundations, and installation of site-wide drainage and storm-water attenuation tanks. Craig Fisher, programme director (recapitalisation) at Sheffield Forgemasters, says: “The machine shop main works contract will create one of Europe’s most advanced machining facilities for the defence sector.”

More information www.sheffieldforgemasters.com

Cutting tool supplier TaeguTec UK has named Alan Ryden as its new technical sales engineer for Scotland. The appointment represents a significant investment in building stronger customer relationships and accelerating growth across Scotland.Ryden brings over 30 years of engineering experience to TaeguTec, combining hands-on technical expertise with commercial knowledge. A time-served mechanical engineer, he has worked with TaeguTec products for 15 years, having joined ABT Machine Tools & Tooling in 2010. Progressing to managing director, Ryden ranABT until November 2024.

More information www.taegutec.com