Praise for Lancashire firm from government apprentice ambassador

Government apprenticeship ambassador Gordon Birtwistle praised the training and career prospects being given to young engineers at Fort Vale after being given a tour of the award-winning East Lancashire factory.

And he said he would be happy to be starting his working life again at Fort Vale, world leaders in the manufacture of valves and fittings for tanker transportation which recently won a fourth Queen’s Award for industry for their export success.

“I have been to Rolls Royce at Derby and their scheme is brilliant. I have been to Toyota and theirs is the same. But they are massive companies. For companies the size of Fort Vale, this is amazing.

“They make advanced products, which will not go out of date, and they are very innovative and their training process is fantastic, so be an apprentice here if you can. “If I was 17 that’s what I would be looking at doing.”