13 Apr 2007 | Ref. 111/2007
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Prime Minister Tony Blair with BAE Systems apprentices and graduates at Govan
Glasgow, United Kingdom. - The Prime Minister and the First Minister of Scotland visited the BAE Systems shipyard in Govan today (Friday 13 April) to meet with apprentices and graduates who are training to become the warship innovators of the future.
The Rt Hon Tony Blair and Rt Hon Jack McConnell were shown round the BAE Systems facility by sheet metal worker Sheryl Dobie, who has recently completed her modern apprenticeship, and fourth year technical apprentice Ross Frew.
During their visit the Prime Minister and First Minister were met by a group of over 60 apprentices and graduates before being shown some of the company’s most recent innovative investment in production facilities, such as a plasma steel cutter.
Speaking from the BAE Systems facility, The Rt Hon Tony Blair said: “This industry is immensely important for Scotland, immensely important for skills that once lost are hard to recapture, and immensely important for the national defence industry.
“The Type 45 destroyers are an outstanding feat of engineering. These are the ships that are going to be absolutely vital to the future of the Royal Navy.
“There is a really, really strong workforce, with tremendous commitment on the Clyde.”
Commenting on the visit, Sheryl Dobie said: “It was great that the Prime Minister and the First Minister took the time to meet with me and so many other apprentices and show their support for modern apprenticeships in Scotland.
"It is really important that young people have the opportunity to see that you can have a great career working in the yards on the Clyde.”
Speaking after the visit, Ross Frew said: “It’s not every day that you get to meet the Prime Minister, and I am really pleased that I was able to tell him how great it is to do an apprenticeship on the Clyde.
“It’s important that young people like me get support to complete a modern apprenticeship and it’s good to see such interest from influential people.”
BAE Systems Surface Fleet Solutions managing director, Vic Emery said: “The company has made extensive investment in recent years not only in facilities but also in our people and I am pleased that both the Prime Minister and the First Minister got the opportunity to see that today.
“Our investment and innovation over the last few years has delivered huge benefits to the UK. For example, the second of the Type 45 Destroyer is being built for 1.2million man hours less than the first, ultimately delivering greater capability to the Royal Navy.
“I hope that the main thing that they took away from their visit is that Clyde warship building has a great future.”
About BAE Systems:
BAE Systems is a global defence and aerospace company delivering a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, information technology solutions and customer support services. With 88,000 employees worldwide, BAE Systems' sales exceeded £13.7 billion pounds sterling (US25.4 billion dollars) in 2006.
For further information please contact:
Catherine Thurogood, BAE Systems
Tel: +44 (0) 141 957 4464 Mob: +44 (0) 7801 717860
catherine.thurogood@baesystems.com
Lisa Hillary-Tee, BAE Systems
Tel: +44 (0) 1252 384934 Mob: +44 (0)7801 718994
lisa.hillary-tee@baesystems.com
Issued by:
BAE Systems, Farnborough, Hampshire GU14 6YU, UK
Tel: +44 (0) 1252 384710 Fax: +44 (0) 1252 383947
www.baesystems.com
