Local MP Visits Civilians Responsible For Front Line Support

16/06/2011
Local MP Visits Civilians Responsible For Front Line Support

Anne McGuire, MP for Stirling, visited the Defence Support Group (DSG) site at Forthside recently to see the valuable work it provides in support of the UK Armed Forces. Renowned for its strategic importance as an in-house capability to the Ministry of Defence, a couple of DSG employees also recently received campaign medals in honour of the front line support they provided in Camp Bastion, Afghanistan.

Hosted by Archie Hughes, DSG Chief Executive, Mrs McGuire toured the workshop to see the workforce turning out battle damage equipment into as good as new condition and spoke to many about their valuable contribution. She also had the opportunity to discuss the current issues affecting DSG and later met with the local Trade Union representative.

Mrs McGuire commented, "The Defence Support Group operation at Forthside makes a significant contribution to the local economy.  I was impressed by the high level of expertise and skill shown by the workers who carry out maintenance on defence equipment on which our front line personnel depend, often for their lives. There are also workers from Stirling carrying out their duties in Afghanistan at the moment.   The DSG has undergone many changes over the past few years to make it a more effective operation, so I was also pleased to catch up with the local union representative who highlighted that many of these changes were delivered as a result of a positive partnership between management and union."

 

Archie said, "DSG lays great store in maintaining positive relationships with locally elected representatives of the devolved administrations as well as those in central Government.  I always take great pride in showing visitors, to any of our sites, the breadth of capability and outstanding commitment of the DSG employees who work hard to deliver a first class service to our Armed Forces both at home and overseas."

 

 

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

 

1.      Picture shows Archie Hughes, DSG Chief Executive and Anne McGuire, MP talking to DSG 2nd Year Apprentice Angela McAllister.

 

2.      DSG launched on 1 April 2008 as a new MOD Trading Fund with the primary focus of providing expert in-house maintenance, repair, overhaul and upgrade services for the through life support of the key land and air based platforms and equipment of the UK Armed Forces.

 

3.      It draws together many unique capabilities that have been developed over several decades for the direct benefit of troops and their equipment at both home and abroad. DSG turnover is in excess of £200m, with a workforce of around 3000 strategically located throughout the UK.

 

4.      DSG's Head Office is located in Andover and provides strategic direction to the main sites in Bovington, Catterick, Colchester, Donnington, Sealand, St Athan, Stafford, Stirling and Warminster. Smaller support sites located in Aldershot, Bicester, Kinnegar and Sennybridge further enhances DSG's geographic coverage. Small support teams are also permanently embedded in other UK military sites as well as established in support of operations in Afghanistan at Camp Bastion.

 

5.      For further information about DSG or to arrange an interview, please contact Venus Tingzon, in the DSG press office:
Office hours: 01264 383217

Out of hours: 07879 481018

Visit: www.dsg.mod.uk

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