Parliamentary candidate Rob Loughenbury writes "BAe Systems is one of the brightest stars of the North West economy. A world leading defence manufacturer, BAe operates at sites in Warton, Samlesbury and Barrow, as well as elsewhere in the UK and globally.
On a recent visit to BAe Warton, I saw cutting-edge Typhoon fighters coming off the production line, with skilled workers piecing together wings, fuselages and other parts manufactured across Europe. I also heard about the company’s commitment to investing in its staff, who enjoy strong terms and conditions and have access to world-class training and career development.
BAe invests £79 million annually in its education and skills strategy. At any one time, 1,000 young people participate in its apprenticeship programmes and over 400 in its graduate training schemes. Through partnerships with Lancaster and Manchester Universities, and with schools and FE colleges in Lancashire, BAe offers routes into quality careers for young people across the County.
Since 2010, 1.8 million new apprenticeships have been taken up in the UK. In addition to these apprenticeships, 1.8 million jobs have been created since the peak of Labour’s Great Recession. The majority of these posts are full time, with only a small fraction representing zero-hours contracts. The UK is now enjoying record employment.
All of this really matters – but it is not really about numbers and graphs. These figures mean that more working people are providing for themselves and for their families. Companies like BAE, which put investment in recruiting and training at the heart of their plans, are the ones responsible for making this happen."