Long-term government support for the aerospace sector was the focus of Lord Fox's visit to Yeovil recently.
Adam Dance, the Liberal Democrat MP for the town, welcomed his party's business spokesperson to Leonardo Helicopters’ site for discussions.
These centred on the UK’s aerospace and defence sector, including the New Medium Helicopter (NMH) programme and investment in British manufacturing.
They met chief executive Clive Higgins and senior leaders to discuss skills development, apprenticeships, and strengthening UK supply chains.
A tour of Leonardo’s next-generation helicopter technology demonstrator, Proteus, was also included to showcase the site’s helicopter innovation.
Mr Dance said: "Yeovil has been at the heart of British aerospace for generations and continues to play a vital role in our national defence.
"It was fantastic to welcome Lord Fox to Leonardo and demonstrate first hand the innovation, expertise and skills that exist here in Yeovil.
"We discussed the New Medium Helicopter programme, the exciting work taking place on Proteus and the importance of giving businesses the confidence to invest for the future.
"Leonardo supports thousands of skilled jobs in Yeovil and many more through its supply chain.
"I'll continue making the case in Parliament that investment in defence should also mean investment in British manufacturing and communities like ours."
The visit comes as Mr Dance continues to campaign for long-term government support for the sector.
This follows his work in Parliament pressing ministers on the future of the NMH programme and the importance of protecting highly skilled jobs in Somerset.
Lord Fox said: "Leonardo is an excellent example of the innovation and engineering expertise that exists across the UK.
"It was invaluable to hear directly from the company about the opportunities and challenges facing the sector, from advanced manufacturing and new technology to skills and future investment.
"Adam has been a strong champion for Yeovil's aerospace industry, and it was a pleasure to join him in meeting the team at Leonardo.
"Supporting businesses like this, protecting skilled jobs and backing programmes such as the New Medium Helicopter project are vital if Britain is to remain a global leader in aerospace and defence."
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