Aldershot and Farnborough form one of the UK’s most significant defence and aerospace hubs, supporting national security, operational readiness and long-term industrial capability.
Defence lies at the heart of this ecosystem. Aldershot’s status as the Home of the British Army reflects the critical role the armed forces play in keeping the nation safe and secure.
Home to key Army headquarters, including Regional Command, Home Command and Standing Joint Command, alongside around 70 military units, creating a uniquely dense concentration of defence leadership, operational expertise and decision making. This proximity offers businesses rare access to end users, real world insight and opportunities to support capability development across land, air, digital and joint domains.
This high performing ecosystem is underpinned by strong collaborative structures. The Farnborough Aerospace Consortium (FAC) — the UK’s oldest aerospace and defence trade association — supports around 300 companies, from SMEs to primes, through supply chain development, innovation support and alignment with national priorities.
Alongside FAC, ADS provides national advocacy and industry representation, a particularly important partnership for Farnborough given its location within Farnborough International, hosts of the globally recognised Farnborough International Airshow (FIA). This connection helps ensure local aerospace, defence, security and space businesses are well positioned to engage with government programmes, industry networks and procurement reform.
The Aldershot and Farnborough Growth Partnership brings these strengths together. By working collectively — across local authorities, industry, defence, skills providers and government — the Partnership is better placed to attract investment, secure funding and respond to the MOD’s renewed focus on streamlining procurement, defence innovation, SME access, export support and technical skills development.
