Business Secretary Vince Cable to speak at Burnley manufacturing summit

Holding such an event is seen as a coup for the town by MP Gordon Birtwistle, who pushed for the summit to be staged in Burnley despite fierce competition from other towns.

“To get this in Burnley when other places were fighting over it is a real coup for Burnley. And to have the Business Secretary coming too makes it even better,” said the MP.

Mr Cable will give a speech and there will be a question and answer session with him and a panel of big names from manufacturing and engineering companies such as Boeing UK and representatives from the National Apprenticeship Service.

The main aim of the meeting is to look at the current situation, how manufacturing and industry can be developed in the town and across the country and how to increase skills especially through apprenticeships, but there will also be information on government help and banking, finance and investment.

“Currently, we have a position where there are skilled jobs out there but we don’t have people with the right skills to fill them. These firms have work and they need skilled workers so we need to increase apprenticeships to fill these positions,” said Mr Birtwistle.

The event will take place on Monday, June 20th from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. at Burnley College. There will be display stands showing a variety of organisations including the borough’s new secondary schools.

“Everything that’s good about Burnley will be on show,” said Mr Birtwistle. “Burnley has some world-class engineering and manufacturing firms and I want to see our town become the example for how things should be done,” he added.

The event has been organised by political communications firm Dods and businesses from across East Lancashire have been invited. Media organisations from across the country are expected to cover the event.