With a name synonymous with advanced engineering of the highest quality, and one of the UK’s leading suppliers to the aerospace sectors we are 80 years old this month – and celebrating our history with a promise to keep looking ahead to the future.

In March 1945, with the Second World War nearing the end, engineering draughtsman Emerson Foulds founded the Middlesex Tool & Gauge Company. Over the years the company has grown to include many iconic names as customers, including Rolls-Royce, IBM, Chubb, BAE and Airbus. Today, the business is known as Middlesex Aerospace and employs over 100 staff at their advanced facilities in Basingstoke. From here we deliver precision engineering services for major aerospace firms around the world.

“Throughout our history we have continuously invested in people and technology,” said Laurence Foulds, CEO and son of founder Emerson. “It is the only viable way to stay at the forefront of quality and service to help our partners reach new heights in aerospace. Our vision is to continue to combine the latest technology with finding and nurturing talent engineers, both now and in the future.”

A history in building for the future

For over 75 years Middlesex Aerospace has operated an Apprenticeship Scheme, helping local school leavers turn into highly skilled and experienced engineers. “Our staff include many people who joined us straight from school, and we are proud of our track record in helping young people enjoy a long and fruitful career in engineering,” said Laurence.

Along with creating talented engineers, Middlesex Aerospace has continuously evolved to introduce new services to customers and expand their facilities when possible. “We are looking to grow capacity in the near future”, said Laurence, “and roll out additional services which will benefit our customers.”

“Being here after Eighty years is a major achievement and testament of the drive and talent of our staff. Now, with our people and desire to reach new heights in precision engineering, Middlesex Aerospace can look ahead to an exciting future.”

 

The arc and evolution of a company is often best seen through employees and their length of service. Middlesex Aerospace is one of a an increasing rare breed of company. Many of our staff stay  for many years, and even less where members of the same family have worked. For the Holder family, we are proud to have employed three generations at our Basingstoke location. Here is their – and our – story

The Holder family

The story begins in 1968, when Ralph Holder left nearby AWRE to join Middlesex Machine Tools as we were then known. Ralph and his wife had bought a new house in the rapidly expanding new town of Basingstoke. Middlesex Machine Tools were also a recent arrival, having expanded to the town that year, and Ralph joined the business as the Foreman of our Machine Tool Division.

Eight years’ later, Ralph’s son Nicolas Holder started his first steps in work as an Apprentice Machine Tool Fitter. The apprenticeship scheme run by Middlesex has consistently developed life careers for staff and given them high value skills. In contrast to his father’s role on the shop floor, Nicolas soon began spending time at customer sites to install their machinery. The process involved building the machines on-site and testing them to ensure they worked. When completed, the machines would be disassembled and transported to the customer. Finally, they would be assembled on site and commissioned.

So it remained until the mid-Eighties. Then it was time for Ralph to retire, and Nicolas moved on to broaden his experience. But the ties to Middlesex resumed in 2001; this time it was the turn of Cris Holder to walk through our doors. Following his father, Cris also began within our training scheme, this time as a Mechanical Apprentice.

Of the three generations, Cris has stayed here at Middlesex Aerospace the longest. Now, as Quality Improvement Manager, Cris oversees our work to reach ever higher standards of service to our customers. His father Nicolas returned in 2015 as a Detail Fitter, and if all three were able to enter our facility today, they would see both our past and our future.

Progress can still look the same

If Grandfather Ralph visited he would be amazed at the incredible precision work of our 5-axis machining solutions. But he would also recognise the SIP Hydroptic 74 Borer. Purchased in 1962 the quality of its output means it still plays an important role in our processes.  Father Nicolas joined Middlesex Machine Tools, and returned to Middlesex Aerospace. Yet he rejoined a business with many of the same people he worked with in the mid-Eighties. And for Cris, his time overlapped them both, with the move from machine tools to an increased focus on precision engineering. But all three would also see the same theme; how Middlesex Aerospace has pursued a continuous path of investment in people and technology to stay at the forefront of quality and service.