Global engineering solutions specialist Barnbrook Systems of Fareham backed PM Keir Starmer’s new skills drive after meeting at Farnborough International Airshow.
The pioneering firm’s managing director Andrew Barnett stressed the importance of investing in training and development of the next generation of new talent for national security and UK plc.
His comments came as the PM launched a new Skills England agency in a keynote speech on the opening day of the aerospace extravaganza.
Andrew met Sir Keir and Secretary of State for Business and Trade Jonathan Reynolds when they toured the UK pavilion in the main hall at the world famous event.
Andrew, who is also a board director of the Farnborough Aerospace Consortium (FAC), said: “Significant investment in skills and training for aerospace and the wider engineering sector is well overdue.
“The Prime Minister’s launch of Skills England today is incredibly welcome to all those business like Barnbrook Systems which have long been driving the skills agenda at a local level.
“This investment and support from the government has the power to transform our workforces, boost productivity and create more jobs in a high skilled and high wage economy.
“Crucially, the Skills England agency must build bridges between industry and government to ensure the skills agenda at education and training providers meets the needs of business.”
Andrew added: “It was great to meet the Prime Minister. His appearance at the airshow offers encouragement that he recognises the critical role aerospace, aviation and defence plays for the economy and national security.”
Barnbrook is leading the way with its skills training programme, including a graduate recruitment programme and an intern programme.
The intern scheme gives young people at local colleges a year of work experience with those proving themselves offered an official traineeship position and a career with the firm. The programme targets 10%-15% of Barnbrook’s workforce annually.
Managing director Andrew is also a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) ambassador, visiting educational institutions to help them understand the skills businesses need.
His meeting with the PM came as Fareham-based Barnbrook Systems relaunched after nearly 50 years in business.
It is unveiling cutting-edge new systems and showcasing its intelligent remote tracking and sensing technology at the show.
Barnbrook, with nearly 50 staff, is attending the airshow for the 14th consecutive time but the first without its founder the late Tony Barnett, who started the business in 1978.
Its team welcomed VIPs, politicians, military and civil delegations, business and media to its stand on the opening day.
Andrew added: This airshow is a major milestone for Barnbrook Systems.
“It represents a relaunch of the business and a new focus on our intelligent engineering solutions based around our market leading BlueCube© remote tracking and sensing technology.
“It has been a flying start to the airshow and we are looking forward to the coming days when we unveil new exciting new solutions to support the rapidly accelerating evolution of aerospace.”
Barnbrook System’s innovative solutions on show include its inflight refuelling switch for civil and military helicopters and the next generation of its BlueCube© remote monitoring systems.
