Bath MP, Ben Howlett ,joined Philip Dunne, Minister for Defence Procurement at the Ministry of Defence, for a tour of BMT Defence Services in Bath.
The Company – based on the Lower Bristol Road and which is a leading international design, engineering, science and risk management consultancy – provides design and technical support for warships and auxiliary vessels within UK and international defence in this city.
It recently entered into a partnership agreement with B&NES and creative workspace provider TCN to regenerate the derelict but historic Stothert and Pitt buildings at Newark Works, on the south side of the river in Bath.
The partnership will allow the Council to secure an anchor tenant for Bath city’s central business district and will provide a secure location for BMT’s new regional headquarters.
As a key part of Bath’s ambitious Enterprise Area, the proposals for South Quays reflect the council’s plans to create exciting spaces for the hi-tech companies who can deliver the right type of jobs for Bath’s new economic vision.
Bath Quays South is part of the wider Bath Central Business District proposal. The council is creating a new city centre location for businesses which includes Bath Quays North (on the current site of Avon Street car park and coach park), Bath Quays South and the crucial link provided by the new pedestrian and cycle bridge.
The Minister for Defence Procurement visited BMT to find out more about their research programmes, graduate and apprenticeship schemes and their plans for office expansion.
Ben Howlett said of the visit:
“It was a pleasure to join the Minister on a visit to BMT today. BMT is a world-leader in defence research and development and Bath’s biggest single employer. It was great to be able to show off how much cutting-edge work in defence is being undertaken here in Bath to the Minister. The Minister’s visit also underlines the importance of BMT to British industry and defence and how crucial it is to keep businesses like this here in Bath.
I was very happy to show the Minister plans of the new partnership agreement between BMT and the Council as part of the Innovation Quays Project. The development will see new and larger premises for BMT that will help secure their future here in Bath for many years to come.”
Muir Macdonald, Managing Director of BMT Defence Services commented:
“We are delighted that the Minister for Defence Procurement put time in his busy schedule to see us in Bath. Philip Dunne MP met many of our people and engaged in conversations ranging from how we design the ships of the future to how we develop our people in our Submarine Academy.
The Minister donned a virtual reality headset to see how we bring the latest computer gaming technology to help our customers stay safe at sea. From our headquarters in Bath, he learned about the work we do around the UK as well as overseas. A particular highlight was lunch with our graduates and apprentices to share in their enthusiasm for the future and to see how they work in local schools to stimulate young people into science and maths.
It was an uplifting day for all of us and we know the Minister left with the impression that we have some extraordinarily talented people who think differently and innovatively, as we all help to keep the nation secure.”
It was an uplifting day for all of us and we know the Minister left with the impression that we have some extraordinarily talented people who think differently and innovatively, as we all help to keep the nation secure.”
