Witham MP Priti Patel visited the international aerospace company Safran at their Essex based site to see first-hand the specialist aerospace safety and survival equipment supported by the company and to discuss the opportunities and challenges facing Britain’s aerospace sector. The visit followed discussions with Safran representatives at the Farnborough International Airshow earlier this year, where Priti heard more about the company’s presence locally and agreed to visit the site.
During the visit, Priti met Nick Earl, Vice President for Safran UK, and Jon Pickard, General Manager of the Braintree site, and toured the facility to learn more about its work. The site specialises in vital aviation safety and survival equipment, including oxygen systems and masks, emergency evacuation slides and sea survival rafts used by helicopters, including equipment supporting military aviation.
Priti discussed the extensive local employment opportunities the company offers and heard about the highly skilled work undertaken at the site and at Safran’s sites across the UK. Discussions also covered future investment and growth, skills and recruitment, and the importance of ensuring Britain remains internationally competitive as a centre for aerospace and advanced engineering.
Speaking following the visit, Priti Patel MP said:
“It was a pleasure to visit Safran and see first-hand the highly skilled and specialist work being undertaken at their Braintree site.
“From aviation oxygen systems and emergency equipment to survival equipment supporting helicopter operations, the work taking place here demonstrates the depth of aerospace and engineering expertise we have locally.
“Aerospace is one of Britain’s great industrial strengths and companies like Safran are important to our economy, our highly skilled manufacturing base and, through their work supporting military aviation, our national security and defence capabilities.
“I welcomed the opportunity to speak with Nick and Jon about Safran’s work, their ambitions for the future and some of the challenges facing the sector.
“Britain must remain a competitive and attractive place for aerospace businesses to invest, innovate and create highly skilled jobs. I will continue to champion Safran, our aerospace sector and the outstanding businesses and workforce we have locally.”
