For me the achievements of Richard Trevithick epitomise the contribution made by Cornwall to the Industrial Revolution, and while Holmans and the mines may be gone, Camborne and Redruth still has many world leaders in specialist engineering.
Large Diameter Drilling (LDD)
have opened a factory at Tolvaddon. This is a world leading company
specialising in heavy engineering and drilling technology and they are involved
in projects around the world including Panama, Argentina, Alaska, Malaysia and
Australia. It's great that the legacy of Holmans lives on through new,
world leading companies like LDD.
Meanwhile, European Springs and
Pressings in Redruth are leading experts in the field of spring manufacturing
and high speed press technology. They have had a fantastic year and continue to
go from strength to strength. Severn Subsea in Redruth helps manufacture
complex components for the oil and gas industry. DP Engineering, also in
Redruth, manufactures specialist components for the aerospace industry while
Rigibore in Hayle produce highly specialised, computer guided drill bits for
use in precision hydraulics manufacturing.
In some cases, the driving forces behind these companies trace their roots back to Holmans. It is why the greatest legacy left by Holmans wasn't the buildings but the people they trained. I would like to see us build on our heritage and expertise in engineering. We are seeing our local schools bring in a renewed focus on science and technology to prepare the next generation for a rewarding career in technology and, in recent years, the government has delivered a huge expansion in apprenticeships to help young people get a career.
I have been really encouraged by
the energy that our local schools have put in to promoting science as a career
choice for their pupils. The future success of our nation will depend on us
maintaining a lead in technology. Britain has a lot going for it. Four of the
world’s top ten universities are in the UK. We lead in areas such as cyber
technology, satellite communications, aerospace and pharmaceuticals.