The latest press release from the KEEP OUR FUTURE AFLOAT CAMPAIGN (KOFAC) follows:
For further information contact the Campaign Chairman -Terry Waiting, 07979 591568, terrywaiting@aol.com or Stuart Klosinski, KOFAC Secretariat, Tel. 01229 820611, sklosinski@furnessenterprise.co.uk ; Fax 01229 827226, c/o Furness Enterprise Limited, Waterside House, Waterside Business Park, Bridge Approach, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, LA14 2HE.
DEFENCE MINISTER TO ADDRESS DEFENCE INDUSTRY NW 2010 CONFERENCE, MANCHESTER WILL HOST THE EVENT
Date 23rd February 2010, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria
Quentin Davies MP, the Minister for Defence Equipment and Support at the Ministry of Defence will be the main speaker at the Defence Industry NW 2010 Conference being held in Manchester at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Manchester Airport on 5th March 2010.
Manchester was chosen as the best place for the Conference because it is a city which is a hub for over 200 defence manufacturing and service firms, many of which export. The Minister will be visiting the North West where defence industry employment supports 17,000 jobs (13% of UK’s total defence industrial employment), a figure which exceeds the combined total of that for the North East, Scotland, West Midlands, East Midlands, and Yorkshire and Humberside.
The Conference will also see David Crausby MP for Bolton North East (a member of the House of Commons Defence Select Committee), Bernie Hamilton UNITE’s National Officer for Aerospace and Shipbuilding, Dave Hulse of GMB, the NDI (Northern Defence Industries) and BAE Systems Managing Director, John Hudson address delegates at The Radisson Blu Hotel, Manchester Airport.
Defence Industry NW 2010 will spell out the significance of the defence industrial base of the region as a regional wealth creator.
Defence Industry NW 2010 will appeal to industry, trade union leaders, politicians of all parties and agencies. Companies and local authorities wishing to take part as delegates or exhibitors can book today by calling Vicky Hurst on 01229 820611 or by email at vhurst@furnessenterprise.co.uk.
Conference Sponsors are BAE Systems, UNITE, and GMB trade unions and the Northwest Regional Development Agency.
The event will enable businesses and others to inform the Government about the significance of the defence industry in the north west and which defence programmes are critically important for its future. At a time when a special review is underway into “Sustaining key skills in the UK fixed-wing industrial base” by Rand Europe, it will also enable the industry to set out its future
skills and investment priorities.
With all political parties committed to a Strategic Defence Review after the General Election the Conference will also enable delegates to debate and set out what they want to see in future defence policy and where spending priorities should
be focused.
Terry Waiting, Chairman of the north west’s Keep Our Future Afloat Campaign lobby group announced the Conference today. He said,
“Defence Industry NW 2010” will enable trade unions and industry to convey a strong message to the current and next government about the key role the region’s strategic defence industry plays at the heart of its manufacturing base, in ensuring our armed forces are able to deliver the UK’s security. The Conference will also enable the Minister to hear first hand what industry thinks of the Green Paper ’Adaptability and Partnership: Issues for the Strategic Defence Review’ published on 3 February 2010 and why the Government needs to continue to sustain a high level of investment in defence procurement from north west firms.”
Mr Waiting concluded by saying,
“Defence Industry NW 2010” will be of interest to directors of companies, trade union officials, MPs, MEPs, lobbyists, local and central government and the armed services. Although there is no delegate fee to attend, prior booking is essential and delegates can register for the Conference by email at sklosinski@furnessenterprise.co.uk and vhurst@furnessenterprise.co.uk or by contacting Stuart Klosinski, KOFAC Secretariat on 01229 820611.”
Steven Broomhead, Chief Executive of the NWDA, which is the main Conference sponsor, said:
“Manufacturing is very important to the north west contributing more than £20bn per annum to the region’s economy. Defence is a major contributor and will be a key driver of the north west economy as it emerges from the recession.
The Conference is an important event at which industry can articulate to government what is required in order to ensure that strategic assets such as nuclear submarines and military aircraft programmes are sustained and have the supply chains that can respond to the forthcoming needs of the Strategic Defence Review.”
Notes for Editors
The Defence Industry NW 2010 Conference takes place on 5 March 2010 at Radisson BLU Hotel, Manchester Airport. Industry, trade union leaders and politicians of all parties will get an opportunity to inform Government about the region’s future defence investment and spending priorities and what the supporting public sector could do to enable the industry to prosper.
Entry to the conference is free, by prior booking only through:
Vicky Hurst vhurst@furnessenterprise.co.uk, Tel: 01229 820611, Fax: 01229 827227
Stuart Klosinski sklosinski@furnessenterprise.co.uk Tel: 01229 820611, Mobile: 07836 254721
Defence Industry NW 2010 is organised by the trade unions Keep our Future Afloat Campaign (KOFAC). The regional lobby group is led by UNITE (Amicus) and GMB. It aims to sustain key skills and order books in the region’s naval shipbuilding sector by lobbying Government and industry for a steady flow of new orders.
Defence Industry NW 2010 will highlight the challenges facing the defence industry, its skills base and the opportunities the industry has. This event will be of interest to defence companies, trade union officials, local and central government and the armed services. The Conference is part of the region’s celebration of national “Manufacturing Week.”
NWDA, BAE Systems Submarine Solutions, GMB trade union, UNITE (Amicus) Furness Enterprise and the Keep Our Future Afloat Campaign are sponsoring the event.
Conference Draft Programme
(Registration 09.00-10.00)
10.00-10.05 Conference opens
10.05-10.10 Terry Waiting – Welcome
10.10-10.30 David Crausby MP, (House of Commons Defence Select Committee)
10.30-10.50 Defence in the North by Robin Fox, NDI
10.50-11.15 GMB presentation by Dave Hulse Regional Organiser
11.35-12.00 Bernie Hamilton, UNITE (Amicus), National Officer
Aerospace & Shipbuilding
12.00-12.20 Quentin Davies MP, Minister for Defence Equipment & Support
12.20-12.45 Panel Questions
13.35-14.00 Howard Gibbs, Head of Small Business Unit, UKTI Defence & Security Organisation
14.00-14.25 Matt Bassford, Rand
14.25-14.45 John Hudson, BAE Systems Submarine Solutions
14.45-15.10 NWDA Chief Executive
15.10-15.30 Panel Questions then close
For more information contact:
Terry Waiting of UNITE (Amicus) 07979 591568 who is also Conference Chairman or view www.navalshipbuilding.co.uk
