Aerospace specialist creates advisory board to support growth strategy

Lancashire aerospace specialist, Airframe Designs, has created an advisory board to support strategic growth as it expands its services in engineering and additive manufacturing to the aviation, defence and space sectors.

The board will be chaired by Gary Lumby, a seasoned business advisor with extensive experience in guiding companies through growth phases.

His background in banking led him to being awarded an MBE for Services to the Finance Industry. He is also a growth expert on the Goldman Sachs 10K Small Business Programme working with Oxford University Business School.

He is joined by Jeff Cheetham, whose expertise in engineering and business development further strengthens the board’s capabilities. With diverse experience in delivering growth and operational performance, he has worked at various strategic management levels for BAE Systems and is a non-executive director of the North West Aerospace Alliance.

The creation of the board marks a significant milestone for Airframe Designs, which has seen substantial growth in the recent past, expanding to nearly 30 staff members.

Jerrod Hartley, CEO of Blackpool-based Airframe Designs, said: “Gary and Jeff’s combined experience and insight will be invaluable as we continue to scale our operations and expand our service offerings.

“The board will play a crucial role in refining our business planning, growth strategy, and ensuring we remain accountable to our high standards of governance.”

Recent projects undertaken by Airframe Designs include the design and manufacture of several 3D-printed tooling fixtures to aid the installation of external sensors onto the fuselage of a special mission military aircraft and the integration of new systems into heavy lift drone platforms.

The company has also been responsible for the conceptual design at a platform level for new uncrewed air-systems, test rig and tooling for electric vehicle propulsion systems and, most recently, the design and analysis of operator consoles for a special mission aircraft.