Ford Aerospace backs Beacon to take off

ONE of the region’s most respected and successful engineering companies has chosen the Foundation of Light at its charity of the year. Ford Aerospace, part of the family-owned Ford Engineering Group, provides a first-class aerospace precision engineering service to customers from its South Tyneside headquarters. Chairman, Geoff Ford explained: “We have known about the fantastic work of the Foundation of Light for some time and that is why all our workforce will be backing the foundation in 2018. “As a company employing 160 local people we take pride in our corporate responsibility. We regularly take part in activities, which we feel will benefit the northeast as we have plants in both North and South Tyneside and employ people from across the region. “Our workforce is always enthusiastic to commit to our charity of choice and has worked with a number of regional and national charities in the past. “We were particularly impressed when we saw the plans for the world of work at the Beacon of Light, and are keen to find even more ways to work closely together in this area. “We really want to get involved and be hands on, and do more than just fund-raising. We can offer work experience and placements, assist people with interview techniques and practice and help job-seekers understand the skills other employers are looking for. “We are an engineering company that makes things - and we would like to help more young people and those of any age who feel disadvantaged make more of their skills.” Lesley Spuhler OBE, Chief Executive of the Foundation of Light, added: “We believe charity should begin on our doorstep and are delighted Ford Engineering has chosen to back the Beacon to help us build a brighter future. “It would be wonderful if even more local companies, big and small, would consider making their new year’s resolution to back the Beacon in 2018 to show they care about helping local people. “The Foundation already raises more than £4m every year to run its ground-breaking education programmes. This year we also need to complete the funding of the £18m Beacon of Light, which is due to open in 2018. "We’ve already raised more than £16m from sponsors, benefactors, trusts and other backers, which shows how much people believe in the Beacon.”