News | 25/07/2024

Made in Huntingdonshire: ACE Technology

ACE Technology: Proudly carrying the legacy of

composite manufacturing in Huntingdonshire

Founded in 2004 in Sawtry, ACE Technology is a family-run engineering and manufacturing business, specialising in the development and supply of lightweight composite components and carbon fibre products, now commonly used across most industries. Working across the aerospace, automotive, defence, communications, motorsports and engineering sectors, ACE Technology’s clients include a number of OEM’s.

The company is proud to be part of Huntingdonshire’s rich history of composite manufacturing. Likewise, their recent move into the former headquarters of Lola Cars in Huntingdon, one of the oldest and largest manufacturers of racing cars in the world, continues the town’s historical connection to the automotive industry.

Fortuitous growth and relocation

In 2015, a move to find larger premises was necessitated when a client offered to help secure 2 former Formula One Autoclaves. Expansion at their existing site Sawtry wasn’t feasible, prompting a search for somewhere larger to accommodate the new machinery. A hangar at Alconbury was secured, with ACE Technology taking over the space from one of its existing customers, who had mentioned they had plans to move out following a project’s recent completion. The significant gain in space proved to be a pivotal point for the business. Paul Skinner, ACE Technology Director explains:

“Previously, we were quite restricted on the size of composite parts we could make. With the new space and equipment, doors began to open up almost immediately. We had built a very good reputation, and with the extra capability, we could now handle full chassis and bodywork – basically a whole car.

The move, though more by chance than design, also resulted in us gaining bigger clients. One of those clients from the F1 sector recommended us to a major high end automotive manufacturer and we’ve been supplying them ever since.”

Relocation and the importance

of local workforce retention

ACE Technology operated in Alconbury for eight years, before a change to earmarked expansion plans forced another swift relocation. In late 2023 they secured over 23,500 square feet of space across three units on St Peter’s Road Trading Estate in Huntingdon. This move involved significant investment, which included the total relocation of our manufacturing facility from Alconbury to the new premises in Huntingdon.

Keen to maintain stability for the largely local workforce, as well as predicting future recruitment needs, our search for a new location quickly discounted a move to Milton Keynes and Peterborough.

Paul emphasised: “most of our employees live within a 10-mile radius of Huntingdon. Whilst the business needed the growth we wanted to minimise the impact on our current workforce so were mindful not to add long commutes to their daily lives. I think we managed this fairly well and the disruption has been extremely minimal in fact a number of our staff have ended up either cycling or in some cases walking to work now. This in turn is both better for the environment and people’s wellbeing. And I think almost all of our staff are happy with the final choice of location.”

In-house training and mentoring –

the secret to a skilled labour force

Robust recruitment strategies have helped ACE Technology successfully navigate the significant growth they experienced from 2015, during the expansion of their production capabilities. From an initial team of 10 in 2004, ACE Technology now employs around 65 people. One key strategy has been to offer in-house training and mentoring, targeted at younger individuals with a desire to get into the industry. Paul explains:

“We train a lot of young people aged between 18 and 25, we always have. We look to give opportunities to people with great enthusiasm and a good work ethic, we will give them the opportunity. Historically, some Formula One companies have fed off the talent we nurture – international travel and sponsorship deals can be very attractive to young people.

But former employees often come back to us, in search of the better work/home/life balance we can offer.”

Export and Future outlook

Currently, distribution is mainly UK based with around 5% of products exported to Europe and previously North America. Paul commented that after a couple of years of focus being on relocation, they are now regrouping and making plans to cast their net more widely to fully leverage their increased capacity.

“The potential is there. We are growing the business now and know that we could export across the globe because we have already done so, and are looking forward to scaling up from our initial volumes. Our sights are set on producing our own ACE products for various sectors including aviation, space and defence, marine and sports goods.”

Huntingdonshire: The hub of composites

Asked to describe what it means to be based here, Paul keenly emphasises the legacy connections between Huntingdonshire and the composite industry. Proud of his personal connection to the area – he and the other ACE Technology directors have lived in the area for most of their lives – he also sees the region as having an important status that needs to be protected and celebrated.

“The association with Huntingdon is strong - I’ve lived here since I was five years old and all three of the ACE Technology Directors went to school in the area. From a business perspective, the locality is ideal. Historically, Specialised Mouldings and other companies like Lola Cars were pioneers right here in Huntingdon. Huntingdonshire is a hub for this industry, and we’ve latched onto that and so have a number of other businesses. We’d like to bring that back in a big way – that’s our intention. Huntingdonshire should be proud of the part it has played in the history of the composite industry.”

Interview with: Paul Skinner, Director, Advanced Composites & Engineering Technology Ltd
Interview date: 22^nd May 2024