In an appeal to an industry that relies on advanced engineering, Keir Starmer on Monday asked for support for a government policy of developing a skilled British workforce, and said the country would “reduce our long-term reliance” on migrants.
Opening the Farnborough International Airshow, the British Prime Minister insisted his Skills England programme could train up a new cohort of young British workers.
With net migration at record levels, standing at 685,000 last year, Mr Starmer warned that UK industry should not merely “pull the easy lever of importing skills”.
Migration over reliance
After meeting apprentices from Airbus and Rolls-Royce, he contrasted them with how too many young people had been let down by a lack of the right training in their local areas.
“That's created an over-reliance in our economy on higher and higher levels of migration,” he said, although he did not criticise businesses for hiring overseas workers or the “contribution that migration makes to our economy”.
However, he said, Britain needed to find a way of creating “a coherent skill system” for ambitious young people, with many put to work in the defence and aerospace business.
“We're going to fire up the training of more UK workers,” he said on the first day of the air show, one of the major events in the aviation industry's calendar.
Skills England would work with the Migration Advisory Committee to identify skills gaps and to “reduce our long-term reliance on overseas workers”.
The new organisation would not only transform how young people are trained but also the relationship between business and the education system.
He said it was “right that we get migration down, it's too high” and that Skills England would develop a pool of well-trained young workers.
But he did not want to deter businesses from hiring from abroad. “That is not realistic and is not good for business,” he said.
“But for too long that's happened because we haven't got the skills available in this country and I'm determined we will change that.”
Cutting edge
In a world that was now “more dangerous, volatile and increasingly insecure”, the role of the defence industry was “ever more important” for the defence of Britain and its allies.
“It always gives me great comfort to know that Britain is at the cutting-edge of defence and aerospace manufacturing,” he added, also thanking industry chiefs “for everything that you do for the security of our country”.
Tempest threat
Some of that new generation of workers will be heavily involved in the highly advanced new Tempest fighter programme, known as GCAP (Global Combat Aircraft Programme), in which Saudi Arabia has shown strong interest.
However, there have been reports that GCAP, currently a trination programme involving Britain, Japan and Italy, could be under threat from the newly launched strategic defence review.
While Mr Starmer said it had made “significant progress” with great benefits to the British economy, he failed to giving it outright endorsement by stating that “there is of course a review going on”.
“But it's important for me to put on record just how important the programme is,” he added.
The Farnborough International Airshow 2024 – in pictures
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QUALIFYING RESULTS
1. Max Verstappen, Netherlands, Red Bull Racing Honda, 1 minute, 35.246 seconds.
2. Valtteri Bottas, Finland, Mercedes, 1:35.271.
3. Lewis Hamilton, Great Britain, Mercedes, 1:35.332.
4. Lando Norris, Great Britain, McLaren Renault, 1:35.497.
5. Alexander Albon, Thailand, Red Bull Racing Honda, 1:35.571.
6. Carlos Sainz Jr, Spain, McLaren Renault, 1:35.815.
7. Daniil Kvyat, Russia, Scuderia Toro Rosso Honda, 1:35.963.
8. Lance Stroll, Canada, Racing Point BWT Mercedes, 1:36.046.
9. Charles Leclerc, Monaco, Ferrari, 1:36.065.
10. Pierre Gasly, France, Scuderia Toro Rosso Honda, 1:36.242.
Eliminated after second session
11. Esteban Ocon, France, Renault, 1:36.359.
12. Daniel Ricciardo, Australia, Renault, 1:36.406.
13. Sebastian Vettel, Germany, Ferrari, 1:36.631.
14. Antonio Giovinazzi, Italy, Alfa Romeo Racing Ferrari, 1:38.248.
Eliminated after first session
15. Antonio Giovinazzi, Italy, Alfa Romeo Racing Ferrari, 1:37.075.
16. Kimi Raikkonen, Finland, Alfa Romeo Racing Ferrari, 1:37.555.
17. Kevin Magnussen, Denmark, Haas Ferrari, 1:37.863.
18. George Russell, Great Britain, Williams Mercedes, 1:38.045.
19. Pietro Fittipaldi, Brazil, Haas Ferrari, 1:38.173.
20. Nicholas Latifi, Canada, Williams Mercedes, 1:38.443.
Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
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The biog
Alwyn Stephen says much of his success is a result of taking an educated chance on business decisions.
His advice to anyone starting out in business is to have no fear as life is about taking on challenges.
“If you have the ambition and dream of something, follow that dream, be positive, determined and set goals.
"Nothing and no-one can stop you from succeeding with the right work application, and a little bit of luck along the way.”
Mr Stephen sells his luxury fragrances at selected perfumeries around the UAE, including the House of Niche Boutique in Al Seef.
He relaxes by spending time with his family at home, and enjoying his wife’s India cooking.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
