BAE Systems announces £500,000 sponsorship of Glasgow Riverside Museum

Glasgow, United Kingdom - BAE Systems has today announced a £500,000 sponsorship of the Riverside Museum in Glasgow, providing a huge boost to the appeal to raise £5m for the project to create an iconic transport museum on the banks of the River Clyde. As part of the five year deal, BAE Systems will work closely with the Riverside team to deliver exhibits and educational activities for schools and young people. The museum is due to open in 2011.

Apprentices Sarah Park, Scott Ballingall and Ryan Hay from BAE Systems businesses across Scotland today presented the half-million pound cheque to Chairman of the Riverside Museum Appeal, Lord Smith of Kelvin, and Leader of Glasgow City Council, Steven Purcell. The ceremony took place at the site of the new museum, almost directly across from BAE Systems largest site in Scotland, the historic Govan Shipyard that is part of the company’s Joint Venture with VT Group, BVT Surface Fleet.

Commenting on the company’s support for the museum, Nigel Whitehead, BAE Systems Group MD, Programmes and Support and Chairman of the company’s Heritage Committee, said "BAE Systems has a long and proud heritage in Scotland and today is delivering the world’s most advanced warships from the Clyde.

“The Riverside Museum shares our vision of being proud of our heritage whilst looking to the future, and we are delighted to be able to provide this sponsorship that will help to inspire Scotland’s engineers of tomorrow”.

The Chairman of the Riverside Museum Appeal, Lord Smith of Kelvin, said: "This is an outstanding contribution from a company which has long been at the forefront of engineering and manufacturing in Scotland. The construction of the museum is an engineering marvel itself and this partnership with BAE Systems will ensure that we can continue to celebrate the finest in design and construction.

“From the museum site, you can see the work being done just downstream by the skilled Clyde workforce and apprentices. The donation from our near neighbours will go a long way to helping us to achieve our £5 million target.”

Steven Purcell, the Leader of Glasgow City Council, said: “BAE Systems has helped to keep alive our proud tradition of Clyde-built ships in Govan. It is investing in our young people, through its innovative apprenticeship scheme, and now providing a massive contribution to what promises to be one of the world’s most breathtaking museums dedicated to engineering, transport and industry.”

BAE Systems is the largest defence company in Scotland and is one of the largest employers in central Scotland. It has three different businesses in the country which range from prime contracting, advanced communications and electronics, through aircraft support and warship design and manufacture. These businesses are BVT Surface Fleet in Glasgow, the warship Joint Venture with VT Group, BAE Systems Integrated System Technologies at Hillend in Fife and BAE Systems Regional Aircraft in Prestwick.

Employing almost 5,000 people in Scotland, BAE Systems is a hugely significant contributor to the Scottish industrial, financial and political landscape.