Coventry, Birmingham, Derbyshire, Redditch, Wolverhampton, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire and Solihull will be represented at one of the world's most prestigious air shows as Midlands organisations eye global success.

Members of the Midlands Aerospace Alliance (MAA) have been invited to exhibit on a special stand at the Farnborough International Air Show in Hampshire.

And CHH CoNeX, based in Holford Industrial Estate, Witton, will be one of the 19 organisations to showcase its capabilities during an exhibition at the air show, which will take place between Monday, July 19 and Sunday, July 25.

Organisations will also be demonstrating how the UK wide supply chain programme known as SC21 has helped them develop its business.

The national Supply Chains for the 21st Century (SC21) programme is designed to improve the performance of companies and help them compete successfully in global aerospace and defence markets.

Shaun Ashmead, operations director at cable-assembly specialists CHH CoNeX, said: "Aerospace is an important sector for Birmingham and the wider Midlands area.

"This is why SC21 is such a valuable initiative as it can help us to gain an edge over our competitors globally.

"Farnborough is one of the most well known aviation events in the world. It is a great stage for us to showcase exactly what we do to an international audience, and we are looking forward to this exciting opportunity - something that would not be possible without the support provided through SC21."

Since the launch of SC21 in 2006, £650,000 of financial assistance has been used to help 70 Midlands companies participate in the programme through projects delivered by the Manufacturing Advisory Service West Midlands (MAS-WM) and the MAA, and funded by Advantage West Midlands, the European Regional Development Fund and the East Midlands Development Agency.

Cliff Johnson, SC21 project manager at MAS-WM, said: "With over £1 million of funding still available the message is clear; any aerospace and defence supplier serious about improving their productivity, quality, cost and delivery should consider deploying the SC21 framework.

"We are using Farnborough to communicate to the global customer community the significant improvements already made by Midlands companies and to encourage others to participate in the programme." 

As the regional trade association representing aerospace and defence companies across the Midlands, the MAA has exhibited at Farnborough since 2004 and this year the MAA stand will host 20 local companies including a number that have adopted SC21, with part of the central area dedicated to the SC21 support project.