View source for Marshall Group

{{Short description|Group of defence and aerospace companies}}
{{About|the group of British defence  and aerospace companies|the Swedish consumer electronics conglomerate |Marshall Amplification}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{primary sources|date=March 2015}}
{{promotional|date=March 2015}}
}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2018}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2018}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Marshall of Cambridge (Holdings) Limited
| logo = 
| image = 
| type = UK Private Limited Company
| industry = [[Aerospace]] & [[Defense (military)|Defence]]
| key_people = {{Unbulleted list|Roger Hardy (Chair)|Gareth Williams (CEO Engineering Businesses)}}
| products = {{Unbulleted list|C-130 maintenance|Deployable infrastructure|Advanced structures|Engineering}}
| revenue = £321 million{{citation needed|date=December 2023}}<ref name="find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk">{{cite web |title=MARSHALL OF CAMBRIDGE (HOLDINGS) LIMITED filing history - Find and update company information - GOV.UK |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/02051460/filing-history |website=find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk |language=en}}</ref>
| operating_income = £4.1 million{{citation needed|date=December 2023}}<ref name="find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk">{{cite web |title=MARSHALL OF CAMBRIDGE (HOLDINGS) LIMITED filing history - Find and update company information - GOV.UK |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/02051460/filing-history |website=find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk |language=en}}</ref>
| net_income = £1.9 million{{citation needed|date=December 2023}}<ref name="find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk">{{cite web |title=MARSHALL OF CAMBRIDGE (HOLDINGS) LIMITED filing history - Find and update company information - GOV.UK |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/02051460/filing-history |website=find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk |language=en}}</ref>
| num_employees = over 2,000{{citation needed|date=October 2023}}
| foundation = 1 October 1909
| location = [[Cambridge City Airport]], UK
| homepage = https://marshallgroup.com/
}}
'''Marshall Group''' (registered as '''Marshall of Cambridge (Holdings) Ltd''',<ref>{{cite web |title=Marshall of Cambridge (Holdings) Limited |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/02051460 |website=Companies House |date= 8 October 2023}}</ref>) is a British company headquartered in [[Cambridge]], [[United Kingdom]]. Subsidiaries include '''Marshall Aerospace''', an [[aircraft maintenance]], modification, and design company located at [[Cambridge City Airport]]. Other subsidiaries are '''Marshall Land Systems''' (ground defence), '''Marshall Slingsby Advanced Composites''', '''Marshall Fleet Solutions''', '''Marshall Skills Academy''' and''' Marshall Property.''' Marshall also owns and operates the airport itself.

The company was originally founded by David Gregory Marshall in 1909.<ref name=founded1909>{{cite web |url=http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/yourtown/oxford/14827330.Molly_Rose__one_of_the_Spitfire_Women__has_died_aged_95/ |title=Molly Rose, one of the Spitfire Women, has died aged 95 |date=27 October 2016 |first=Andy |last = French |publisher=[[Oxford Mail]] |access-date=26 February 2018}}</ref> Initially operating [[chauffeur]] services, the firm soon branched out into [[vehicle]] [[Maintenance (technical)|repair]] and [[car dealership|dealership]] activities. During the 1930s, Marshall became increasingly engaged in [[aviation]]; by the end of the [[World War II|Second World War]], the company had trained in excess of 20,000 [[aircrew]] for service within the [[Royal Air Force]]. It was also engaged in repair and modification of [[military aircraft]] during the conflict.{{citation needed|date=August 2022}}

During the [[postwar]] era, the Marshall companies have been involved in [[Aerospace engineering|aerospace]] and [[special vehicle]] engineering, with Marshall Aerospace forming a major part of the Marshall Group. The company performs all aspects of design, manufacture, maintenance, modification, conversion and logistic support of [[Military aircraft|military]], [[Commercial aviation|commercial]] and [[Business aircraft|business]] aircraft. Traditionally focused on military customers, Marshall Aerospace has increasingly orientated itself towards the civilian sector in recent decades. It employs over 2,000 people and is based on an {{convert|800|acre|km2|1|adj=on}} site with {{convert|1200000|sqft|m2}} of covered [[hangar|Aircraft hangar]] space on the Cambridge Airport site.

In October 2021, Marshall announced that it had decided to move its Aerospace operations to [[Cranfield Airport]] (near [[Milton Keynes]]) and that "it will leave its current base at Cambridge Airport by 2030".<ref name=ITV051021 /> In November 2022, Marshall Aerospace announced that it expects to have left Cambridge Airport "by 2027".<ref name="Bedford Today 11/22">{{cite news |title=Marshall Aerospace submits plan for Cranfield move | work=Bedford Today |first=Clare |last=Turner |url=https://www.bedfordtoday.co.uk/business/marshall-aerospace-submits-plan-for-cranfield-move-3909139 |date=8 November 2022 |access-date=8 November 2022 |quote=Subject to planning approval, Marshall Aerospace intends to be operational at Cranfield during 2026 and to have vacated its current home at Cambridge Airport by 2027.}}</ref> In October 2025, the Marshall Group announced that it was reconsidering its plans.<ref name="BBC 011025" />

==History==
===Early years===
The Marshall group was originally established during 1909 by its founder David Gregory Marshall, who gave the company his name.<ref name = "mars story"/> Its initial base was a small lock-up garage in Brunswick Gardens, [[Cambridge]], and at first provided [[chauffeur]] services to individual customers. It quickly became commercially viable, enabling the business to relocate to larger premises in Kings Street during 1910 and again to Jesus Lane just two years later, expanding its operations to the sale of vehicles shortly thereafter.<ref name = "mars story"/> In 1912, Marshall worked on its first aircraft, helping to repair the engine of a [[British Army]] [[airship]], the ''Beta II'', which had made an emergency landing on [[Jesus Green]], a park near its garage. During the [[World War I|First World War]], Marshall's premises were engaged in the servicing and repair of vehicles required for the British war effort.<ref name = "mars story">{{cite web |url = https://www.marshallgroup.co.uk/about/our-story/ |title = Our Story |publisher = Marshall Group |access-date = 28 February 2020 |url-status=dead |archive-date= 31 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210131220359/https://www.marshallgroup.co.uk/about/our-story/}}</ref>

During the late 1920s, David Marshall's son, Arthur, took an active role in the company.<ref name = "mars story"/> A keen engineer and pilot, Arthur was involved in establishing an aerodrome at [[Fen Ditton]] on the outskirts of Cambridge. During 1930, the Marshall Flying School was formed at Fen Ditton, marking the company's entry into the aviation sector.<ref name = "mars story"/> During the 1930s, Marshall purchased a large amount of farmland, using some of it to establish what would become Cambridge City Airport, which was larger and with greater facilities than its predecessor. Formally opened in 1937, the new airport was fortuitously timed with a coinciding national priority on rearmament, which included the training of military aircrew.<ref name = "mars story"/> Accordingly, in 1938, a major flying training school for the [[Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve]] was established by Marshall; it had reportedly trained over 600 new RAF pilots prior to the start of the [[Battle of Britain]]. The scheme was ramped up during the [[World War II|Second World War]]; the company ultimately trained in excess of 20,000 aircrew, including pilots, observers and flying instructors.<ref name = "mars story" /> During 1941, the training scheme was universally adopted by the [[Royal Air Force]] (RAF).<ref name = "mars story"/>

Prior to the war, Marshall had opened a second garage, known as "Airport Garage", on the site; both garages were temporarily closed down during the conflict and were reopened shortly after its end.<ref name = "mars story"/> In the meantime, the company engaged in the repair and modification of military aircraft. Marshall performed work on over 5,000 aircraft, ranging in size and complexity from [[Airspeed Oxford]] and [[Avro Anson]] transport aircraft to front-line combat types as the [[de Havilland Mosquito]], [[Supermarine Spitfire]], [[Hawker Hurricane]], [[Vickers Wellington]] and [[Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress]].<ref name = "mars story" /> To cope with this workload, the firm's workforce was expanded to around 3,000 employees, many of which were women.<ref name = "mars story"/> Marshall chose to continue its involvement in aviation work, such as repairs, structural modifications and conversions, even after the war's end, although it mostly abandoned its final assembly work. Instead, the firm operated as a [[sub-contractor]] of virtually all the British aircraft manufacturing companies.<ref name = "mars story"/>

===Postwar===

Marshall Motor Group rapidly flourished in the [[postwar]] era; various new garages were soon established to serve [[Peterborough]], [[Bedford]], and neighbouring smaller towns.<ref name = "mars story"/> During the 1950s and 1960s, the firm found work in modifying hundreds of various civil airliners, including the [[Vickers Viscount]], the first [[turboprop]] airliner, and [[de Havilland Comet]]s, the first [[jet propulsion|jet-powered]] airliner, and the [[Bristol Britannia]]. Marshall was also involved with the [[National Research Development Corporation]], assisting [[Francis Thomas Bacon]] in the invention of the [[fuel cell]].<ref name = "mars story"/> Around this time, Michael Marshall became the company's CEO. He managed the company for several decades, during which time it became one of the largest privately owned businesses in Britain.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.cambridgenetwork.co.uk/news/marshall-leasing-mourns-loss-amazing-founder |title = Marshall Leasing mourns the loss of an amazing founder |publisher = Cambridge Network |date = 29 July 2019}}</ref>

[[File:raf.hercules.c-130k.c3.arp.jpg|thumb|right|220px|Royal Air Force Hercules C-130K (C3) in commemorative Hercules Integrated Operational Support Colour Scheme.]]
Since 1966, Marshall Aerospace has been the designated support company for the Royal Air Force's fleet of [[Lockheed C-130 Hercules|C-130 Hercules]]. It has been formally recognised as a Sister Design Authority for the type since 1988. The company oversaw the introduction of RAF's 25 second generation [[Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules|C-130J Super Hercules]] fleet, as well as the retirement of half of the service's first generation aircraft. In addition to its domestic support operations, Marshall Aerospace has supported various international operators' own Hercules fleets.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.cambridgenetwork.co.uk/news/marshall-signs-contract-us-government-kuwait-air-force-kc-130j |title = Marshall signs contract with US Government for Kuwait Air Force KC-130J |publisher = Cambridge Network |date = 6 January 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.cambridgenetwork.co.uk/news/marshall-rolls-out-first-bangladesh-air-force-c-130j |title = Marshall rolls out first Bangladesh Air Force C-130J |publisher = Cambridge Network |date = 23 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.flightglobal.com/picture-austrias-first-hercules-enters-modernisation-programme/108518.article |title = PICTURE: Austria's first Hercules enters modernisation programme |publisher = Flight International |first = Craig |last = Hoyle |date = 22 January 2013}}</ref> Marshall Group has also signed multiple agreements with US defense conglomerate [[Lockheed Martin]] to manufacture various components of the Super Hercules on behalf of the latter's for the global supply chain.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.cambridgenetwork.co.uk/news/marshall-signs-%C2%A395m-five-year-contract-lockheed-martin |title = Marshall signs £9.5m five-year contract with Lockheed Martin |publisher = Cambridge Network |date = 26 February 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.flightglobal.com/farnborough-lockheed-martin-marshall-sign-c-130-support-deal/106016.article |title = FARNBOROUGH: Lockheed Martin, Marshall sign C-130 support deal |publisher = Flight International |date = 9 July 2012}}</ref>

Marshall Aerospace functioned as the design authority for the RAF's fleet of [[Lockheed TriStar (RAF)|Lockheed TriStar]] tanker and freighter aircraft;<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.flightglobal.com/marshall-aerospace-to-land-tristar-deal/68007.article |title = Marshall Aerospace to land TriStar deal |publisher = Flight International |date = 20 June 2006}}</ref> as well as the appointed sister design authority for the RAF's [[Boeing E-3 Sentry|Boeing E-3D Sentry]]. It undertook major maintenance and modification activity on these types, plus a range of other military and commercial aircraft. Notable design achievements include the design and production of [[Concorde]]'s [[Droop nose (aeronautics)|droop nose]] and visor in 1967, and a vestibular sled for medical research {{explain|date=April 2013}} which flew 112 orbits in [[Space Shuttle Challenger]] on [[STS-61-A]] in 1985. Marshall Aerospace has also performed a variety of passenger to tanker and freighter aircraft conversions. One unusual project was the conversion of a [[Lockheed L-1011 Tristar]] airliner into a launch vehicle for a satellite delivery system, on behalf of [[Orbital Sciences]]. Marshall Aerospace was the designated industrial body involved in the ''[[Avro Vulcan|Vulcan to the Sky]] '' project, which restored [[Avro Vulcan XH558]] to a flight-worthy condition and supported its operations for numerous years.<ref name=finalflight2>[http://www.vulcantothesky.org/history/end-of-flight-2.html "Farewell to Flight Why 2015 must be XH558’s last flying season".] ''Vulcan To The Sky'', 25 November 2015.</ref>

In 1992, Marshall bought [[AWD Trucks]].<ref>[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/awd-sale-to-put-bedford-in-cambridge-1557330.html AWD sale to put Bedford in Cambridge] ''[[The Independent]]''</ref><ref>[http://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/16th-september-1993/10/marshall-is-set-to-use-bedford-name Marshall is set to use Bedford name] ''Commercial Motor'' 16 September 1993</ref> Production in that subsidiary ended in 1998.<ref>[http://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/23rd-june-2011/33/the-end-for-bedford The End for Bedford] ''Commercial Motor'' 23 June 2011</ref>

Marshall Group has been a long-term partner of [[Bombardier Aerospace]]. During 1998, the company was appointed the first independent authorised service centre in Europe for the [[Bombardier Global Express]] long-range business jet.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.flightglobal.com/marshall-selection/23586.article |title = Marshall selection |publisher = Flight International |date = 7 October 1998}}</ref> In mid 2000, Marshall became involved in the Global Express' manufacturing process, performing interior completions on behalf of Bombardier.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.flightglobal.com/bombardier-expands-marshall-aerospace-links-to-battle-backlog/33196.article |title = Bombardier expands Marshall Aerospace links to battle backlog |publisher = Flight International |first = Graham |last = Warwick |date = 25 July 2000}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.flightglobal.com/analysis-marshall-aerospace-diversification-plan-pays-off/121050.article |title = ANALYSIS: Marshall Aerospace diversification plan pays off |publisher = Flight International |first = Craig |last = Hoyle |date = 15 July 2016}}</ref> During the 2010s, the firm's expertise with the type enabled it to perform extensive modifications of the airframe to produce customised special mission models for military customers.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.flightglobal.com/business-aviation/picture-project-dolphin-surfaces-with-uae-air-force-markings/129324.article |title = PICTURE: Project Dolphin surfaces with UAE air force markings |publisher = Flight International |first = Mark |last = Kwiatkowski |date = 24 August 2018}}</ref> Marshall Aerospace has also performed the production of long range fuel tanks for various [[Boeing]] aircraft, including the [[Boeing 747-400]]ER and [[Boeing 777#777-200LR Worldliner|777-200LR]] airliners, as well as the [[Boeing P-8 Poseidon|P-8 Poseidon]] multi-mission maritime aircraft.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.flightglobal.com/marshall-aerospace-talks-fuel-tank-inerting-with-757-767-operators/92906.article |title = Marshall Aerospace talks fuel tank inerting with 757, 767 operators |publisher = Flight International |first = Craig |last = Hoyle |date = 14 April 2010}}</ref>

By 2012, the Marshall Group was reporting an annual turnover in excess of £1 billion and was employing nearly 4,500 staff.<ref name=marshallgroup/> During the 2010s, the business made various moves to expand its footprint in commercial aviation, announcing its intention to establish Cambridge Airport as a primary hub for business aviation operations during 2012.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.flightglobal.com/marshall-to-create-aerospace-centre-of-excellence-at-cambridge-airport/105125.article |title = Marshall to create aerospace 'centre of excellence' at Cambridge airport |publisher = Flight International |first = Murdo |last = Morrison |date = 3 May 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.flightglobal.com/cambridge-airport-introduces-radical-new-pricing-structure/106309.article |title = Cambridge Airport introduces radical new pricing structure |publisher = Flight International |first = Kate |last = Sarsfield |date = 18 July 2012}}</ref> In September 2013, Marshall purchased [[Hawker Beechcraft]]'s services branch at [[Broughton, Flintshire|Broughton]], subsequently rebranding it ''Marshall Aviation Services'' as well as being appointed Hawker's distributor for the UK, [[Ireland]] and [[Scandinavia]]. That same year, the company also bought FlairJet, an [[air charter]] specialist. This move was part of Marshall's strategy to grow its charter fleet five-fold.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.flightglobal.com/marshall-aerospace-snaps-up-beechcrafts-european-mro-business/110976.article |title = Marshall Aerospace snaps up Beechcraft's European MRO business |publisher = Flight International |first = Kate |last = Sarsfield |date = 3 September 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.flightglobal.com/marshall-snaps-up-flairjet-and-plots-global-expansion/109012.article |title = Marshall snaps up FlairJet and plots global expansion |publisher = Flight International |first = Kate |last = Sarsfield |date = 11 March 2013}}</ref> At this time, Marshall Group was deliberately restructuring its business activities, particularly its sizable aerospace division.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.flightglobal.com/analysis-how-marshall-is-re-engineering-its-aerospace-business/113446.article |title = ANALYSIS: How Marshall is re-engineering its aerospace business |publisher = Flight International |first = Murdo |last = Morrison |date = 24 June 2014}}</ref>

During late 2015, Marshall Group announced that, in response to a downturn in demand from the British armed forces, the firm intended to focus on its growing civilian activities, including the resumption of [[VIP]] aircraft conversion work to counteract this.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.flightglobal.com/civil-push-is-new-tack-for-marshall/111246.article |title = Civil push is new tack for Marshall |publisher = Flight International |first = Michael |last = Gubisch |date = 9 October 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.flightglobal.com/marshall-aviation-services-prepares-to-offer-widebody-vip-completions-/115002.article |title = Marshall Aviation Services prepares to offer widebody VIP completions |publisher = Flight International |first = Kate |last = Sarsfield |date = 3 November 2014}}</ref> During 2019, the company announced that was planning to relocate its headquarters from its historic home at Cambridge Airport over the coming decade, although it noted there was value in relocating to a nearby location, such as [[Cranfield Airport]], [[Duxford Aerodrome]] and [[RAF Wyton]].<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.flightglobal.com/mro/marshall-aerospace-scouts-for-new-location/132683.article |title = Marshall Aerospace scouts for new location |publisher = Flight International |first = Niall |last = O'Keeffe |date = 15 May 2019}}</ref>

[[File:Bangladesh Air Force C-130J (cropped).jpg|thumb| [[Bangladesh Air Force]] [[Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules|C-130J]] modified by Marshall ADG]]
Marshall carried out&nbsp;depth maintenance and&nbsp;modified [[Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules|C-130J Super Hercules]] fleet of [[Bangladesh Air Force]]  before delivered to [[Bangladesh]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Marshall rolls out first Bangladesh Air Force C-130J
|url=https://marshalladg.com/insights-news/marshall-rolls-out-first-bangladesh-air-force-c-130j |website=Marshall|access-date=14 December 2020}}</ref> Those were ex [[RAF]] aircraft. Marshall also signed a multi-year multi-million-pound support contract for the C-130J fleet.<ref>{{cite web |title=Marshall Aerospace and Defence signs new multi-million-pound support contract for Bangladesh C-130J fleet
|url=https://marshalladg.com/insights-news/marshall-aerospace-and-defence-signs-new-multi-million-pound-support-contract-for-bangladesh-c-130j-fleet |website=Marshall|access-date=14 December 2020}}</ref>

==Activities==
Marshall's headquarters is located on an 800-acre site in [[Cambridge]], UK. The group operates worldwide in the fields of aerospace, military land systems and fleet management; the company also cooperated with 67 [[Franchising|franchise]]d automotive dealerships across the UK by 2012.<ref name=marshallgroup>{{cite web |publisher = Marshall Group |title=Marshall Group |url=http://www.marshallgroup.co.uk/ |access-date=27 July 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.cambridgenetwork.co.uk/content/marshall-aerospace-and-defence |title = Marshall Aerospace and Defence |publisher = Cambridge Network |access-date = 28 February 2020}}</ref>

Marshall Aerospace has been involved with all levels of aircraft maintenance, modification and conversion for more than seventy years. The company has the authorisation and experience to work on a range of aircraft from [[Cessna Citation family|Cessna Citation]]s to [[Boeing 747]]s in civil use, and [[Lockheed C-130 Hercules]] and [[Lockheed L-1011 TriStar]]s for the military. Marshall Aerospace carries out maintenance from routine daily maintenance to a full aircraft depot level checks. All forms of conversions, re-configurations, modifications and repairs can be designed and implemented by Marshall Aerospace.  The company's commercial aircraft hangar can house a range of different aircraft, for example, one Boeing 747-400, one [[McDonnell Douglas MD-11]] and two [[Airbus A320 family#A320|Airbus A320]]s.{{clarify|date=August 2018|reason=all at once?}} Marshall also has other hangar space that can hold up to 12 C-130s at a time. Amongst the various facilities it has, the firm possesses the largest quiet test building in Europe.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.cambridgenetwork.co.uk/news/marshall-invests-europe%E2%80%99s-largest-quiet-test-building |title = Marshall invests in Europe's largest quiet test building |publisher = Cambridge Network |date = 15 October 2019}}</ref>

The company has a long history of rapid response to customers, an example being the complete repaint of a Tristar at Cambridge on 16 January 1991; it was repainted in "desert colours" overnight and flown back to the Gulf for operations on 17 January 1991, the first full day of [[Operation Desert Storm]]. During the 2010s, Marshall Aerospace opened a new main paint bay, which it claimed to be one of the largest in Europe, being big enough to accommodate an entire [[Boeing 747]].<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.cambridgenetwork.co.uk/news/marshall-aerospace-and-defence-group-equipment-upgrade-slashes-carbon-emissions-more-40-cent |title = Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group equipment upgrade slashes carbon emissions by more than 40 per cent |publisher = Cambridge Network |date = 24 June 2019}}</ref>

Besides aerospace, Marshall operates other divisions in a diverse range of fields. Marshall Group Properties owns Cambridge City Airport, where the company has its main base, and a large portion of the land surrounding it. Over the years, it has embarked on various development projects to expand the airport's facilities and build thousands of homes nearby.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.cambridgenetwork.co.uk/content/marshall-group-properties |title = Marshall Group Properties |publisher = Cambridge Network |access-date = 28 February 2020}}</ref> The airport itself has been owned and operated by the company since 1937.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.cambridgenetwork.co.uk/content/cambridge-international-airport |title = Cambridge International Airport |publisher = Cambridge Network |access-date = 28 February 2020}}</ref>

==Planned relocation==
In May 2019, Marshall announced that Cambridge City Airport would be closed to all traffic by 2030 at the latest. The Group plans to redevelop the airport site for around 12,000 homes and {{convert|5|e6sqft|e6sqm|abbr=unit}} of business premises.<ref name=BBC0519>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-48269651 | title=Marshall Aerospace plans to leave Cambridge Airport base by 2030  | publisher = BBC News | date= 14 May 2019 | access-date=20 May 2019}}</ref> In May 2019, the Group announced that it was deciding between three potential airfields for its continuing operations: [[Duxford Aerodrome]], [[RAF Wyton]] in Cambridgeshire, or [[Cranfield Airport]] in Bedfordshire.<ref name=BBC0519 /> In January 2020 the Group ruled out moving to [[Duxford Aerodrome|Duxford]] due to incompatibility between the defence requirements of the Group and the requirements of the local traffic.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cambridgeindependent.co.uk/business/marshall-aerospace-and-defence-group-rules-out-iwm-duxford-as-its-new-home-9097179/|title=Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group rules out IWM Duxford as its new home|date=2020-01-22|website=Cambridge Independent|language=en|access-date=2020-02-18}}</ref>

On 6 October 2020, [[Cranfield University]] and MADG announced that they had signed an option agreement for the potential relocation of Marshall Aerospace to Cranfield Airport.<ref name=BBC061020>{{cite news |title= Cambridge's Marshall Aerospace signs 'option' for Cranfield University move | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-54438465 | work= BBC News | date= 6 October 2020 | access-date= 8 October 2020}}</ref> A spokesperson for MADG cautioned that "it is important to note that the signing of the option agreement does not represent a final decision".<ref name=BBC061020 /> In October 2021, the Group announced that it had decided in favour of the Cranfield option and that "it will leave its current base at Cambridge Airport by 2030".<ref name=ITV051021>{{cite news |title=Cambridge-based Marshall Aerospace pursuing 'viable and practical' move to Cranfield University |work=ITV News |date=5 October 2021 |access-date=3 August 2022 |url=https://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2021-10-05/marshall-aerospace-pursuing-viable-and-practical-cranfield-university-move}}</ref> Outline planning permission for the development at Cranfield was granted in April 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McCrum |first=Kirstie |date=2023-04-21 |title=Aerospace company to relocate UK HQ to Bedfordshire |url=https://www.bedfordshirelive.co.uk/news/bedfordshire-news/aerospace-company-gets-green-light-8375043 |access-date=2023-04-27 |website=bedfordshirelive |language=en}}</ref>

In October 2025, the Marshall Group announced that it was to abandon the proposed move, considering it "unaffordable" after having made a loss of $55M in 2024: it is "actively exploring a number of alternative options".<ref name="BBC 011025">{{cite news |title=Aerospace firm's future base now uncertain |work=BBC News | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c62l6gnvdyqo |first=Phil |last=Shepka |date=1 October 2025}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://marshallaerospace.com Marshall Aerospace]

{{Aerospace industry in the United Kingdom}}

[[Category:Aerospace companies of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Aircraft component manufacturers of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:British companies established in 1930]]
[[Category:Technology companies based in Cambridge]]
[[Category:Manufacturing companies established in 1930]]
[[Category:South Cambridgeshire District]]
[[Category:Technology companies established in 1930]]
[[Category:1930 establishments in England]]
[[Category:Manufacturing companies based in Cambridge]]