NEVER mind the bright lights of the West End, a day out in London for a group of Worcestershire apprentices involved a meeting with local MP Harriett Baldwin.

They were among more than 70 apprentices from across the UK, who work in the aerospace, defence, security and space industries and were invited to a reception at Westminster by industry trade body ADS, where they chatted with the member for West Worcestershire. The trainees were all from UTC Aerospace Systems, which is based at Malvern Hills Science Park and will soon be moving into a new, purpose built office space on a site in Geraldine Road.

Mrs Baldwin said: "Malvern has been home to generations of brilliant brains and it was great to meet some local apprentices in Westminster. We can be very proud of the innovative defence companies like UTC growing fast in Worcestershire. Many of these defence companies run strong apprenticeship programmes and are offering young people a first step on the ladder of a career in the defence industry.”