A SCOTSTOUN defence and aerospace company is celebrating after being commended for its commitment to training and skills excellence.

BAE Systems was awarded by Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, at a ceremony at St James’s Palace in London last week, for its scheme offering young unemployed people training to help them get work.

The business was one of 40 organisations honoured.

Movement to Work is a voluntary collaboration of UK employers committed to providing unemployed young people with valuable experience, vocational training, mentoring and support to help them find employment. BAE Systems has supported the scheme since its set-up in 2014.

The award comes as BAE Systems takes on its hundredth employee through the scheme.

Jonathan Shiels, 19, who recently started his apprenticeship in the company’s naval ships business unit in Scotstoun, said: “During the Movement to Work programme I spent time in the operating skills centres in Govan and Scotstoun getting work experience in welding, burning, pipe-fitting, fabrication and electrical work.

“I also spent two weeks with the Prince’s Trust learning skills like CV writing, interviews and how to operate successfully as a team.

“It was one of the most rewarding experiences I could have asked for, and I’m very excited to be joining the company full time as an apprentice after just four weeks; I can’t wait to see what the future holds.”

The awards honour employers who can demonstrate that they have created outstanding training and skills development programmes which link development needs and performance.

Steve Fogg, managing director of BAE Systems Shared Services, said: “It is a fantastic programme to be involved in as it makes a real difference in helping young people currently not in education, employment or training, to get hands-on work experience as well as skills training; often resulting in real job offers.

“In just four weeks, we see participants grow in confidence and self-belief which helps their real talent and potential shine through more clearly, so that an employer can see what they truly have to offer.”