“Defence Matters” says Bob

In support of the campaign, ‘Defence Matters,’ Robert Walter MP (North Dorset) visited Ferndown-based electronics company Electronic Technicians Ltd – ETL.

Bob was invited to visit the total solution contract electronic manufacturer on Ferndown Industrial Estate - by the Defence Industries Council as part of their influential Defence Matters campaign. The campaign aims to encourage people to see the work of the defence industry first hand and better understand the contribution of the companies involved to the UK economy and the vital work of our Armed Forces.

Ken Crook, ETL’s Managing Director, Philip Arnold, Sales Director, and Ministry of Defence Project Manager Philip Scantlebury greeted Bob and took him on a tour of ETL’s manufacturing floor. 

ETL has, in recent years, provided flight data recorders for the Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft, cable harnesses for Challenger tanks, ground test kits for Tornado jets and communications systems for our Armed Forces serving in Afghanistan. This small to medium-sized Dorset company counts amongst its client base major international firms such as BAE Systems; QinetiQ;Penny & Giles Aerospace; Marshalls Special Vehicles; and Crane Aerospace.

Although the majority of ETL’s work is for the defence industry, the company also manufactures key electronic parts for the medical sector and marine equipment. The company employs 50 members of staff and celebrated its 25th anniversary last year.

After his visit Bob said: “As President of the interparliamentary European Security and Defence Assembly, a body of national parliamentarians that scrutinises joint defence missions and defence procurement, it was very interesting today to take an in-depth look at the key role played by one small to medium-sized business in Dorset, both within the UK’s defence industry and internationally.

“With the UK’s defence industry employing more than 300,000 people in high value engineering and manufacturing jobs - and our defence exports contributing around £5billion to the British Economy - I think it only right that national campaigns like Defence Matters highlight the important part played by smaller, local businesses like ETL, who have the skills and flexibility to cut it in a very competitive, high stakes industry.”