The recent milestone achieved by Vertical Aerospace—completing the world’s first fully piloted transition flight of a tilt-rotor eVTOL aircraft under regulatory oversight—marks a defining moment not only for aviation, but for the wider aerospace supply chain.
For HT Brigham Pressings, the development carries particular relevance. The Birmingham-based precision engineering specialist has recently strengthened its leadership team with the appointment of Anna Lavender Moore as Compliance Director—bringing with her direct experience from the front line of eVTOL innovation.
Bridging Advanced Aerospace and Manufacturing Discipline Says Director Anna Lavender-Moore
Before joining Brigham, Moore played a key role supporting Vertical Aerospace, where she contributed to the design, deployment and maintenance of quality and training systems for electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft. Her work formed part of a $2bn New Product Introduction programme—one of the most ambitious in next-generation aviation.
The successful transition flight, conducted under the oversight of the Civil Aviation Authority, demonstrated the aircraft’s ability to move seamlessly between vertical lift and wingborne flight—the most technically complex phase of eVTOL operation. For Moore, it represents more than a technological achievement; it highlights the increasing importance of robust compliance frameworks in emerging aerospace sectors.
“Programmes like this demonstrate that innovation alone is not enough,” she explains. “To bring new aviation technologies into commercial reality, you need absolute confidence in process control, quality systems and training at every stage of development.”
A Supply Chain Shift Towards Capability
At its core, the rise of eVTOL is reshaping expectations across the aerospace supply chain. Aircraft platforms such as the G-EVTA rely on highly engineered components, tight tolerances and repeatable manufacturing processes—areas where specialist suppliers play a critical role.
This aligns closely with the evolving positioning of HT Brigham Pressings, which has increasingly focused on delivering complex, high-value pressings, tooling and assemblies to regulated sectors including aerospace and defence.
As Moore notes, the demands of programmes like eVTOL reinforce a broader shift already underway in UK manufacturing.
“Advanced aerospace platforms require a different level of supplier maturity,” she says. “It’s about traceability, consistency and the ability to manage complexity—not just at the product level, but across the entire manufacturing system.”
From Aerospace Giants to Next-Generation Flight
Moore’s career spans senior roles at Goodrich Corporation (now part of RTX Corporation), as well as Moog Inc.—organisations synonymous with aerospace precision and compliance excellence.
That experience is now being applied within Brigham to strengthen internal systems and enhance customer alignment, particularly as OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers look to de-risk increasingly complex programmes.
Her academic background—including a Master’s in Organisational Psychology and studies at leading UK institutions—further supports a structured, systems-led approach to operational improvement.
Building on Strong Foundations
While the technologies may be new, Moore is clear that Brigham’s ability to adapt is rooted in long-established principles.
“Through the years, Brigham’s continuous evolution is down to the hard work of its people, and the work Mr. and Mrs. Brigham put into developing a strong set of core values,” she says. “These unwavering values have allowed us to power through the pandemic and are the reason why so many of our customers and partners find it easy to work with us.”
“They also provide us with an excellent platform for the improvements we intend to pursue.”
Positioning for the Future of Flight
With commercial eVTOL operations targeted within the next decade, the implications for the UK’s aerospace manufacturing base are significant. As new aircraft architectures emerge, so too does the need for a supply chain capable of delivering precision, compliance and scalability in equal measure.
For HT Brigham Pressings, the appointment of Anna Lavender Moore—and her direct experience within one of the sector’s most pioneering programmes—signals a clear intent to be part of that future.
As Moore concludes, “The opportunity for UK manufacturing lies in its ability to deliver high-integrity, high-value components into complex programmes. eVTOL is just one example—but it’s a powerful indicator of where the industry is heading.”