I met with Alastair Morrison, Senior Vice President, Radar and Advanced Targeting, Philip Pratley, Director, Trade & External Relations UK and Allan Colquhoun, University Liaison and Emerging Technologies Manager for a briefing on•the business and what they are doing to get local people into high skill employment.

I was given a comprehensive overview of the company’s capability, heritage and current range of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) activities in the community. I then met apprentices Lisa Scott and Seamus Somerville who described their experiences on their respective apprenticeships, before completing a tour of production halls led by John Reid, Head of Manufacturing & Supply Chain. The tour incorporated a visit to•the new multi-screen display in the Phase 1 atrium, which showcases•the integrated sensor capability which is currently operating on the Eurofighter Typhoon.

Companies like Finmeccania make such a valuable contribution in creating high skill jobs in our city. Around 40% of Finmeccania’s 4,300 strong workforce are based at the Crewe Toll site in Edinburgh, where it has been since 1943. It is vitally important that we continue to encourage young people to pursue degrees and apprenticeships in engineering as there are such great local job opportunities.

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