Aerospace and defence giant BAE Systems today urged fellow manufacturers to take advantage of £65 million worth of government funding for training staff and plugging skills-gaps.
The money is available for Train to Gain programmes and has been secured by Semta – the employer-led sector skills council for science, engineering and manufacturing technologies.
At a suppliers’ event BAE held today in Birmingham, Malcolm Dare, supply chain director for BAE Systems Submarine Solutions, said: “In challenging economic conditions, it is more important than ever for all elements of the supply chain to develop the skills of their workforce.
“Research shows that firms that don’t invest in training are more than twice as likely to fail, whereas those that make the effort to develop a wide and flexible skills base will be well placed to adapt to changing conditions – and respond to future opportunities.
“I want every one of our suppliers to access the training they need, when and where they need it, and with a minimum of red tape,” he added.
The meeting was attended by the National Skills Academy for Manufacturing and a host of companies which together represent 70 per cent of BAE Systems’ supply chain. They included Rolls Royce, Ultra Electronics and the Ministry of Defense.
For information on how to access the funds see semta.org.uk
Pictured left to right with submarine valves: Lynn Tomkins – SEMTA, Bob Bowser – Managing Director of Truflow Marine, Ian Burns – BAE Systems, Malcolm Dare – BAE Supply Chain Director, David Orr – Director of Submarine Programme for Rolls Royce, John Swift – Submarine Intergrated Project Team & Simon Elliott – SMTA Supply Chain Development.
