The 420 tonnes of steel have been erected since last summer when work began on the Academy at the company's Military Air & Information site in Samlesbury, Lancashire.

It will be completed to welcome the next intake of apprentices who join with the company in September.

Marking the occasion

Dave Holmes, Manufacturing Operations Director was joined by Investments Director Nigel Aspin, Academy manager Wilf Monk, technical apprentices Toby Dalglish and Richard Bradley, who have been involved in the construction project and business apprentice Florence Morgan, to mark the completion of the steelwork.

They helped to tighten the 'golden bolt' which marked the completion of the steelwork.

He said: 'This Academy will provide our future apprentices and graduates with modern, flexible facilities and cutting-edge technology to ensure they are equipped with skills required for the long-term.'

Apprentice's view

Florence said: 'It was great to see how the new Academy is progressing, even though it is only steelwork now, you can see the sheer scale of the facility and the commitment to the training programmes the Company provides its workforce.'

Work is now underway to complete the exterior of the building which is planned to be watertight this summer.

The Academy is the first development on the Lancashire Enterprise Zone at Samlesbury.

BAE Systems plc issued this content on 23 March 2016 and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 23 March 2016 14:12:57 UTC

Original Document: http://www.baesystems.com/en/apprentice-training-academy-steelwork-completed