Mark Pawsey MP visits Alstoms Rugby site to mark National Apprenticeship Week

Alstom welcomed local MP Mark Pawsey to the companys site in Rugby to mark National Apprenticeship Week.

With the company taking on more than 100 new apprentices across the UK in 2013, Mr Pawsey was able to meet some of the existing Rugby apprentices, together with graduates working for Alstoms Power business.

Iain Rutherford, Alstom Unit Managing Director in Rugby, said: We were delighted to welcome Mark to Alstom and to show him some of the work were doing to get young people involved in engineering. Were proud of our successful apprenticeship and graduate programmes, which support our commitment to encourage young people to join the UK engineering community.

Mark also toured Alstoms research, development and testing  facility, where the company develops technology for use across the world.

I was delighted to visit Alstom and to learn of their continuing commitment to providing excellent apprenticeships, said Mr Pawsey.

I am fully supportive of apprenticeship schemes and believe they should be recognized in much the same way as we recognize the academic achievements of our young people who choose to go to university. Companies like Alstom should be celebrated for the opportunities they provide for school leavers and I wish them, and their apprentices, every continued success.

Alstom is Rugbys largest employer, with around 700 people working at its Newbold Road facilities, and is also the head office for the UK Power business.