UK Export Growth Strikes a Chord with King’s Award Winning Manufacturer

Britain’s improving export picture is striking the right note at ASG Aerospace, where Coventry-based ASG Arrowsmith has built an award-winning international business supplying precision-engineered components into global aerospace programmes.

New figures from the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) show UK manufacturing export order books returning to "normal" levels for the first time in more than four years, providing an encouraging signal for manufacturers with established international markets.

The CBI’s latest Industrial Trends Survey, based on responses from 273 manufacturers, recorded a significant improvement during August.

Export order books moved from a balance of -33% in July to 0% in August, their strongest position since June 2022 and considerably ahead of the long-run average of -19%. Overall manufacturing order books also improved sharply during the month.

For ASG Arrowsmith, part of ASG Aerospace, international trade has been central to its growth story for more than a decade.

From its manufacturing base in Coventry, the company produces complex precision components for some of the world’s leading aerospace organisations, with parts entering international supply chains and major aircraft and engine programmes.

That success has earned the company some of the country’s highest business honours. ASG Arrowsmith received the Queen’s Award for Enterprise for International Trade in 2020 after recording a 996% increase in export activity over three years.

Its international growth subsequently earned recognition through the King’s Awards for Enterprise for International Trade in both 2024 and 2025, underlining the sustained contribution exports have made to the development of the business.

Jason Aldridge, Managing Director of ASG Arrowsmith, said the latest improvement in UK export orders was particularly welcome for manufacturers that have invested in building an international presence.

“Seeing export order books return to normal levels for the first time in more than four years is music to our ears,” he said.

“We have seen first-hand what international trade can do for a specialist UK manufacturer. Export growth has helped us invest in new technology, develop our people, increase our capabilities and build relationships with some of the biggest names in global aerospace.

“Receiving the Queen’s Award and then the King’s Awards for International Trade were very proud moments for everyone here because they recognised years of work building those international relationships. The latest CBI figures give us further confidence in the opportunities available to British manufacturers around the world.”

Arrowsmith’s international development provides a useful example of how specialist UK engineering businesses can translate technical capability into export growth.

ASG Aerospace now ships to markets including Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, Philippines, Vietnam, Morocco, Singapore, Japan and the USA, while its components ultimately support aerospace programmes operating around the world.

Today, that international outlook forms part of the wider strategy at ASG Aerospace, which brings together specialist manufacturing businesses across the UK and Germany.

The group provides vertically integrated precision engineering capabilities for aerospace, defence and other advanced industries, combining complex machining with specialist processes and surface treatments.

Aldridge believes the strength of the UK aerospace sector gives British manufacturers an important platform from which to pursue further international growth.

“Aerospace has always been global, customers want manufacturing partners that can demonstrate technical capability, quality, delivery and the capacity to grow alongside their programmes."

“The UK has tremendous engineering expertise and a strong reputation internationally. When that is combined with continued investment and a willingness to develop long-term customer relationships, there is a huge opportunity to win work around the world.

“For us, exporting is about creating sustainable growth here in the Midlands. International orders support skilled jobs, apprenticeships, investment in equipment and the continued development of our manufacturing capability. That is why stronger export demand matters.”

The CBI figures arrive as the global aerospace industry continues to focus on increasing production rates and strengthening supply chain capacity to support long-term aircraft demand.

For ASG Aerospace, that combination of improving export sentiment and growing aerospace requirements creates a strong backdrop for further investment and international development.