AN ENGINEERING company will showcase its world-first innovations to fellow industry leaders in an event organised to encourage collaboration between local businesses.

Engineering company Forth, based in Barrow, will host BAE Systems which has invited members of its supply chain to tour Forth’s base in the town.

Team members from Forth will explain to attendees the lifecycle of a project, from idea and design through to manufacturing.

Tony Sneesby, Forth’s operations manager in Barrow, said: “We feel honoured to be able to work with such a world-renowned company like BAE Systems. To be asked to showcase what we do here for the supply chain is a real privilege.

“As an innovator in engineering solutions, we are fully aware of the importance of collaboration between SMEs like ourselves and this showcase event will promote that on a larger scale.

“We are proud to be able to deliver world-first innovations here at Forth, and to get an opportunity to share ideas and knowledge with some of the excellent businesses operating across Cumbria is something we are really looking forward to as a team.

“Building relationships with local SMEs is key to business and we are excited to forge closer links to further strengthen the county’s reputation of providing groundbreaking work which has a positive impact on industry the world over.”

Around 30 Cumbrian SMEs will attend the showcase event which aims to; provide a local professional network and a supportive infrastructure, provide a forum of like-minded businesses, develop relationships between businesses by encouraging communication and better understanding of local needs and challenges, and promote representation, visibility and engagement of procurement and material management personnel in the area.

Attendees will be given the opportunity to network over lunch before representatives from Forth give presentations.

Following the discussions, members will be given a tour and view some of the collaboration projects on display including the pioneering RESURGAM initiative which involves 13 project partners from across Europe, including Forth, working to develop a world-first underwater robot which can repair a damaged ship’s hull using friction stir welding technology from a safe, remote distance.

The BAE Regional Supply Chain Network event is by invite-only. However, Forth is opening the doors to the wider SME community with an open day following the BAE event.

To register interest, contact info@forth.uk.com.