Wed, 13 March, 2019
TWI and BAE systems have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) covering a number of joint opportunities and initiatives.
The MoU was signed by TWI Chief Executive, Aamir Khalid, and Manufacturing Director of BAE Systems’ air sector and due to be appointed President of The Welding Institute, Dave Holmes.
The MoU represents a joint commitment to work together to create more regional centres as part of TWI’s growth plan as well as plans to undertake trade studies on existing and future products for development.
TWI Chief Executive, Aamir Khalid, said, “A core aim of our organisation it to promote the advancement of knowledge across our core focus areas of welding, joining and allied industries. The combat air sector is an important one for our membership, one that is at the forefront of jobs, skills, investment and innovation.
“This new agreement with a long standing partner will help drive development in the areas that matter most to us and play a role in securing the long term future of our members, now and in to the future.”
Dave Holmes, Manufacturing Director, BAE Systems, Air, added, “The UK has been a pioneer in air power for more than 100 years. It’s essential that we retain our world leading position when we look to the next 100. Faced with fast developing technology and an increasingly competitive global landscape, collaboration and fast deployment of innovation will be essential.
“Our new partnership with TWI – one of the world’s leading professional engineering institutes – will help deliver this. It is the latest in a number of collaborations we have agreed across, academia and business that will help us, and the UK, deliver more capability, more quickly, maximising investment”.
BAE and TWI will hold quarterly meetings with agreed terms of reference as they jointly explore available public funding opportunities and investigate both general and tailored training courses.
You can find out more about how TWI’s capabilities and technological understanding aligns with BAE’s work on a global level here.
Also, see here for more information from BAE on how the agreement is designed to drive innovation, skills and training across UK industry.
TWI MoU signing L-R:
(Top) Chris Dungey, TWI, Ian Barton, (BAE Systems), Andy Schofield (BAE Systems)
(Bottom) Dave Holmes (BAE Systems), Aamir Khalid (TWI)