East Midlands aerospace company flying high with funding success

The business manufactures one off parts for specific applications, small batch runs of parts for testing, and offers a full design and consultation service. Flyber Composites focuses on propellers and fixed wing aircraft and drones for use within aerospace, aviation and defence applications.

With the infrastructure and established operations in the UK, Flyber Composites is able to design, manufacture and supply at speed, streamlining the prototyping process.

Having met while studying for an MBA, Carstensen and Savi realised that there was a valid business model in prototype aerospace and defence manufacturing. Drawing on their backgrounds, with Savi’s experience in finance and asset management, and Carstensen’s aerospace and automotive history, the two were able to secure finance from the Start Up Loans programme, with support from its Business Support Partner GC Business Finance, to begin Flyber Composites.

The business plans to expand its modular, scalable manufacturing cells, which are currently being deployed in the UK, with further plans to expand with customers in North America and Europe, where they are in the process of establishing as a key tier one supplier to industry.

Andrea Savi, co-founder of Flyber Composites, said: “The funding we received from the British Business Bank was fundamental and crucial to the business’s success. Without it, we would not have been able to develop our first prototypes and secure our first customers. It has allowed us to establish ourselves in the market, and we’re currently looking at a next round of funding and other partnership opportunities to extend our capabilities.”

Rowan Carstensen, co-founder of Flyber Composites, added: “2026 is going to be all about scaling for us. We’ll be focusing on consolidating our UK presence and working to build traction with US customers. In particular, we’re aiming to be a tier one supplier for the US defence sector. We’re proud to be based in the UK, as we benefit from the ‘ecosystem of expertise’ that exists here for this type of engineering work.”

Louise McCoy, Managing Director, Start Up Loans Products, British Business Bank, said: “Advanced manufacturing is one of the sectors being backed in the Industrial Strategy and we’re delighted Start Up Loans can back innovative, high growth businesses with the potential to create jobs and export, as Flyber Composites is seeking to do by becoming a tier one supplier in the US.”