BAE Systems is pleased to be a premier partner for this year’s Great Exhibition of the North, taking place in Newcastle Gateshead from 22 June to 9 September 2018.
The Government-backed exhibition will celebrate design and innovation from across the North of England and is committed to helping create a bright and prosperous future for engineering and manufacturing in the region.
BAE Systems is the UK’s largest defence, aerospace and security company and has a large presence in the North of England with more than 18,000 employees based in the region, more than half its UK workforce. The company contributed £11.1 billion to UK GDP in 2016 and makes a significant contribution to the North of England through the creation of highly skilled jobs and investing in local communities.
In 2016, BAE Systems made a £15.6m investment in a brand new Academy of Skills & Knowledge training facility in Lancashire, reflecting an ongoing commitment to developing a rich source of learning for current and future employees. The state-of-the-art facility has delivered more than 250,000 hours of training since opening and over 550 apprentices and graduates have been through its doors.
Chris Boardman, Group Managing Director, BAE Systems Air said: “We’re very proud to be part of the Great Exhibition of the North which celebrates the skills, products and contribution made in the North. Our sites and highly skilled workforce in the North of England lead on the delivery of some of the largest and most technically advanced engineering and manufacturing projects in the world. Iconic aircraft such as the Lancaster and Vulcan through to modern aircraft like the Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer have all been designed, developed and manufactured in the North. Our Samlesbury and Warton sites in Lancashire produce world leading combat aircraft including the Typhoon. Our Barrow-in-Furness site is proudly the birthplace of every submarine currently in service with the Royal Navy. We’re committed to our ongoing investment and recognise the importance of making sure we have a strong talent pool for our next generation of employees.”
He continued: “The Great Exhibition of the North will attract visitors to see some of the greatest innovations designed and built in the North, and we’re delighted to be able to support this exciting project.”
Sir Gary Verity, Chair of the Great Exhibition of the North, said: “We are thrilled that BAE Systems – a major and innovative Northern employer – has signed-up as a premier partner. There are fewer than six months to go until the Exhibition opens on Newcastle Gateshead’s iconic Quayside, showcasing the innovative technological and creative practice coming out of the North of England. BAE Systems is a company at the forefront of driving this innovation and is a perfect fit for the Exhibition because it provides opportunities for young people aspiring to build careers in the fields of science, technology and engineering.”
The Great Exhibition of the North takes place from Friday 22 June to Sunday 9 September 2018. Three walking trails across NewcastleGateshead focussing on arts and culture, design and innovation will showcase exciting ideas from across Northern England. The free, family-friendly exhibition will feature a stunning opening event that will see the unveiling of an 80m long water fountain in the River Tyne reaching the height of the Tyne Bridge. It will finish in style with the world-famous Great North Run and the powerful ‘Creating the Future’ closing weekend on 8th and 9th September.
