South Gloucestershire Council

Published: 20/05/2014

Mr Kessel will be joined by fellow Canadians Jason Kee, Trade Commissioner and Lee Thornton, Technology Partnership Manager. They will be met by the Chairman of South Gloucestershire Council, Cllr Ian Boulton who will welcome the delegation to South Gloucestershire when they arrive at Parkway Station.

Cllr Boulton will host the visitors’ tour of South Gloucestershire which starts with a trip to aircraft manufacturer Airbus in Filton, followed by a tour of nearby GKN Aerospace. The delegation will then make its way to Emersons Green to visit the National Composites Centre.

Amanda Deeks, Chief Executive of South Gloucestershire Council, will join the delegation in Emersons Green at the Bristol and Bath Science Park along with science park Chief Executive Bonnie Dean.

Frenchay is the final destination on the tour with a visit to the Bristol Law School which is based at the University of the West of England.

Cllr Ian Boulton, Chairman of South Gloucestershire Council, said: “As Chairman of the Council I have been keen to champion our world class reputation as a centre of excellence for high tech manufacturing and skills. I am delighted to arrange for Alan Kessel, the Deputy High Commissioner for Canada, together with a number of his Trade Commissioners, to visit some of our key local organisations. I hope the conversations Mr Kessel has during his time here will open even more opportunities for the benefit of the residents and businesses in South Gloucestershire.”

Deputy High Commissioner Alan Kessel said: “I’m really pleased to be visiting South Gloucestershire and am looking forward to learning more about the region. Canada and the UK have deep cultural, historical and commercial ties. I am interested to see how we can strengthen those existing relationships and create new ones.”