A stronger partnership for skills development in the aerospace sector was launched in Parliament today. SBAC and SEMTA signed a ground-breaking Memorandum of Understanding committing both organisations to share resources and deliver better skills and training to the aerospace sector. The MOU was signed at a reception in the House of Commons and witnessed by the Minister for Skills, Phil Hope MP.
The aerospace industry faces tough challenges with growing global competition and the need for a step change in environmental performance. The scale and range of these challenges creates exciting career opportunities and the need for the continuous improvement of skills of both new and existing employees.
Sally Howes, SBAC Director General said,” Skills and technology are essential elements of manufacturing competitiveness in the twenty first century. Establishing a stronger and more formal partnership between the aerospace industry and its sector skills council will help to deliver the skills base we need to meet global competitiveness and environmental challenges. The signing of the MOU marks an important development in the strong relationship between SBAC and SEMTA and a further step towards a global competitiveness.”
Philip Whiteman, Chief Executive of SEMTA, said: “We are delighted to be strengthening further the solid relationship we have with SBAC. The Society and its members have been valuable partners in developing the Sector Skills Agreement that will help ensure the necessary workforce skills and training provision are in place to sustain the growth and prosperity of the aerospace sector. We look forward to continuing to work closely with SBAC in implementing the Agreement both regionally and nationally through the National Skills Academy for Manufacturing.”
Under the memorandum of understanding SBAC and SEMTA will work together in all aspects of skills development including joint research and analysis, conducting regular benchmarking exercises and integrated communication with academia and funding agencies.
SBAC is a major contributor and strong supporter of the National Skills Academy for Manufacturing, an initiative being led by SEMTA which aims to streamline education and vocational training provision and create an improved and simplified accreditation regime. This project brings together industry and government in a bid to streamline courses and ensure the training that is available is in tune with industry needs.
For more information contact: Paul Everitt, Communications Director, SBAC
Tel: 020 7091 4509 / paul.everitt@sbac.co.uk
Notes to Editors
For more information about SEMTA click here.
SBAC is the UK's national trade association representing companies supplying civil air transport, aerospace defence, homeland security and space. SBAC encompasses the British Airports Group. Together with its regional partners, SBAC represents over 2,600 companies, assisting them in developing new business globally, facilitating innovation and competitiveness and providing regulatory services in technical standards and accreditation.
At present, the UK has the world's largest aerospace industry outside the USA. UK based aerospace activity had a turnover of more than £22bn in 2005, supporting a highly skilled workforce of over 276,000 people.