Gosport is home to an exceptional concentration of defence, aerospace and military expertise. With major military  training establishments, intelligence infrastructure, and proximity to the UK’s busiest naval bases, the town sits at the heart of one of the country’s most highly skilled clusters. Across the wider South East, more than 37,000 service personnel contribute to a deep and long‑standing legacy of defence capability and technical know‑how – making Gosport a strategic location with strong potential for high‑value aerospace investment.

That’s why the skills base which would be developed through AERALIS and its UK‑wide industrial ecosystem, including our partnership with StandardAero in Gosport, is so important. By building on this foundation of talent, we could help to grow the next generation of high‑skill aerospace roles and create new pathways into the sector.

A recent economic report by Gosport Borough Council highlights why this investment matters. The findings show that despite its strong skills heritage, the town faces challenges in creating enough local job opportunities:

Job density is significantly lower than regional and national averages.

Some neighbourhoods experience higher levels of economic inactivity and lower qualification levels than national and regional averages.

Latest IMD data places Gosport 97th most deprived out of 296 local authorities, reflecting a relative rise in deprivation since 2019.

A large proportion of residents still commute elsewhere for work.

Caroline Dinenage, MP for Gosport commented: “Gosport has the skills, heritage and strategic position to play a leading role in the UK’s future aerospace and defence industries. Encouraging industry who will deliver high‑value jobs and training is essential to developing the town’s full potential.”

Through the AERTEAM™ consortium which includes StandardAero in Gosport who will deliver fully complete fuselages for the programme, AERALIS is working with leading British aerospace partners to address exactly this, and will create more than 4,000 high‑value jobs across the UK from Hampshire to Ayrshire. By embedding expertise locally and expanding acs to training, apprenticeships and work‑experience opportunities, the AERALIS programme is designed to support sustainable growth, boost skills, and open up new career routes for communities that will benefit the most – including places like Gosport

🔗 Read Gosport Borough Councils report here

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