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Swift Aircraft was delighted to be invited to 222 (Broadlands) Squadron Annual Formal Inspection 2019. It was an excellent evening with a sunlight parade, Drill Squad display and other activities. Reviewing Officers on parade were Wg Cdr Miller MBE and Sqn Ldr Green MBE. The Cadets all did themselves proud, and everyone was very impressed by the standards displayed. Well done to all involved, we enjoyed being part of this wonderful event. We would like to extend our thanks to the Squadron for the invitation, and look forward to growing our relationship with you all in the future. Swift Technology Group sponsored the UTCN entry in the Greenpower race challenge earlier this month. Despite difficult weather conditions, the team battled on, showing amazing resilience, outstanding teamwork and a positive attitude. Unfortunately, the team did not make it to the finals, however, the way they conducted themselves is to be congratulated, and the progress they made was immense - they should all be very proud of themselves. It's been great to be a part of the journey, and we look forward to future projects with the college and team members. Yesterday was hailed a great day for Swift Aircraft, and indeed the aviation industry in Norfolk, as North Norfolk District Council granted approval for our proposals to re-open the runway at Scottow Enterprise Park (formerly RAF Coltishall). This decision means that Coltishall will make aviation history once more as we take to the skies in the Swift later in the year; a critical step toward to achieve our aviation goals. When we applied for permission to open the runway, we held a planning open day, and received support from the local residents, many of whom had fought tirelessly for the runway to be saved. The fact that this asset still remains in situ is testament to them, and they are thrilled that this will be used for the purpose it was built. As Scottow Enterprise Park is split between two authorities, both Councils must approve our proposals. Permission remains pending with Broadland District Council, however, with a unanimous vote from North Norfolk, we hope that support will be forthcoming in the very near future. Everyone at Swift Aircraft is thrilled with the news, and we look forward to moving forward with flight plans in the coming months. Despite the last hurdles, we remain confident that Norfolk will become a centre for aviation, technology and innovation with Swift at the heart of this. EDP Article Radio Norfolk - Matthew Gudgin interviews David Stanbridge  The decision to bring the runway at Scottow Enterprise Park (formerly RAF Coltishall) back into use is due to be decided.
Swift Aircraft applied for planning permission to open the runway last year, and after months of considerations, the decision will be made by Norfolk’s Planning Committee today. Planning approval would mean that we could bring the runway back to it’s former use, albeit with much less frequency and volume. The site was an RAF airbase for 70 years prior to its closure in 2006, and it is steeped in history. The runway is a historical asset and one many local residents fought hard to keep. It would be a fitting tribute to allow aircraft to once again take to the skies from this site; a celebratory nod to the past and the start of a remarkable future. We have received a lot of support for our application and hope that we will be forming further plans in the coming days. EDP Article 19th June 2019 Swift Technology Group is proud to sponsor a team of students from UTCN in the Greenpower Education Trust Race. The team will take part in the Norfolk Lotus heat at Hethel Race Track on 8th June 2019.
AMEL, Swifts’ manufacturing arm, has provided hardware for the car – the UTCN team worked closely with members of AMEL to design a number of glass fibre and carbon fibre parts for their race car. TWF Solutions, the marketing and design company within the group, has also liaised with the team and supplied car decals. Swift Technology Group is a keen advocate of STEM and several staff members are STEM Ambassadors. Helping to create engineers of the future is currently a main focus for the group, and with the need for a strong engineering workforce in the near future, facilitating these local students with careers in the sector, is a very real prospect. Swift Technology Group is a technology-focused group of companies working within STEM industries, providing ground-breaking innovative solutions predominately in Aviation, Renewables and Oil & Gas. The company has invested millions of pounds into Research and Development over the last decade and will soon see its two flagship products launched commercially. The group is based at Scottow Enterprise Park and will be increasing the workforce to over 100 in the next few years. Due to this expansion, the company is looking to the college as a potential supplier of local skilled engineers. UTCN is a technical college based in Norwich for 14 to 19 year olds. It provides practical skills-based learning and real-world experiences, backed up with a strong academic grounding. Its goal is simple: to provide students with the qualifications they need to go to university or take up skilled employment. With a focus on engineering, science and maths, it aims to help fill the skills-gap in these sectors. Entering into initiatives such as the Green Power Race is testament to this as it allows the students to show off their STEM and creative skills in a practical environment. Swift is working closely with the college on a number of initiatives and look forward to strengthening the relationship even further in the coming months. Green Power Education trust offers a unique challenge: to design, build and race an electric car. Teams of students aged between 9 and 25 from all over the world compete in events across the globe, with the final taking place at the UK’s Rockingham Motor Speedway. The goals of Swift are strongly aligned with UTCN and Greenpower; to inspire young people into STEM industries, unlock their potential and kick start lifelong careers. It’s therefore been a pleasure to work alongside these STEM advocates for this project. On a final note, everyone at Swift would like to wish the UTCN team good luck this weekend, it’s been a pleasure to meet you all and be part of this exciting project. We will provide an update next week and hope to report a win! |
