The 3M manufacturing site at Aycliffe hosted a visit by Labour peer Baroness Prosser as part of her Industry and Parliament Trust Fellowship.
Baroness Prosser, a former President of the TUC, is spending several days at a range of 3M sites across the UK as part of the complete 18-day fellowship, co-ordinated by the IPT.
The Trust is dedicated to promoting mutual understanding between Parliament, business, industry and commerce for the public benefit. There are currently 65 parliamentarians involved in IPT Fellowships across a number of UK and international sectors of business and industry.
The Aycliffe plant manufactures respirators for worker safety and products for the vehicle aftercare market. Baroness Prosser toured the plant’s production areas and laboratories where future new products are developed.
Baroness Prosser was interested in looking at the UK manufacturing industry for her fellowship. In particular, she wanted to visit 3M due to her interests in skills, innovation, apprenticeships, high-tech manufacturing and links with universities.
“I have been very impressed by the innovation, the commitment to UK manufacturing and by 3M’s policies of inclusion and employee development,” she said. “All of this was much in evidence at Aycliffe.”
Site manager Dave Watson commented: “We were delighted to welcome the Baroness to Aycliffe and give her an insight into the work we do here. 3M is very enthusiastic to support the Fellowship scheme as it is in the interests of the manufacturing industry for our legislators to have a clear understanding of the needs of the creators of wealth in this country.”
