£3m Eurofighter plant points way to future

Dr Mary Harris told the audience at the official opening of the new Assembly Engineering Building at British Aerospace's Samlesbury site that it would help put paid to the unglamourous image of engineering.

The new state-of-the art building will be home to 300 engineers initially working on the Eurofighter programme.

It houses the latest in computer technology and virtual reality technology which will be used for work on front and rear fuselages for the Eurofighter.

"This concept is an excellent example of engineering at its best," said Dr Harris who began her engineering career with British Aerospace.

Dr Harris is director general of the Year of Engineering Success initiative aimed at encouraging more young people into engineering.

She warned British industry faced a severe shortage of engineers unless the brightest candidates could be steered away from "media studies and tourism" courses.

And Dr Kenny said that such investment would help encourage more young people to take a career in engineering which was still vital to the British economy.

"We need to get away from the image of oilstreaked overalls. Engineering is exciting and challenging." Phill Blundell, site director at Samlesbury, said the new facility was vital in an increasingly competitive aerospace market.

"The people who will work here are at the forefront of everything we do at British Aerospace."

Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans, one of the guests at the opening ceremony, said the new centre was a shining example of the best of local industry.

"British Aerospace is regarded as a world leader and it is by this kind of investment that they maintain that position.

"And their success means success for hundreds of other companies in East Lancashire. People in this area should feel proud to have this kind of facility in their area."

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