I’ve been leading the campaign for Barrow and Furness to host one of the new Defence Technical Excellence Colleges (DTEC) since the Labour Government committed to deliver them in the Defence Industrial Strategy last year.
I spoke in the chamber back in December to back a DTEC in Barrow, so I’m delighted that Furness College is going to become one of the new DTECs in a joint bid with Blackpool and The Fylde College. I also welcome the collaboration between Furness College, B&FC and BAE Systems to deliver this successfully. This is fantastic achievement for our area, and this announcement is of national and international importance.
It will provide even more opportunities for local people to access good quality, well-paid jobs in our shipyard and in the wider defence industry. This is really good news for the whole of Barrow and Furness but particularly for our young people.
