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Press Cuttings - Tony Blair visits Learning IT

Learning IT celebrated its 4th Birthday BBQ with a special surprise guest.

Prime Minister Tony Blair visited Learning IT and joined in our Birthday Barbecue. The PM arrived at 1230 on 25th May, and toured round the office, met all our staff, went into some of our training rooms and met delegates.

He then went downstairs to the garden area, where he was introduced by Learning IT MD, Duncan Macleod. Duncan told the crowd that Learning IT set up in business on Election Day on 1st May 1997, but we had not expected that we would be welcoming the Prime Minister to our 4th birthday celebrations! The other reason for the Barbecue was for the e-employability Programmes which we had been running for people in Forth Valley who are looking for employment.

The PM replied with a short speech. Talking about the importance of lifelong learning, Tony Blair said that Britain could not hope to compete internationally by being cheaper than other countries. We had to stay highly skilled, and training in IT is a very important part of that. The PM congratulated Learning IT on our achievements in growing the business over the past 4 years.

He then went back upstairs for a live TV phone in with STV and then came down to re-join the barbecue. After numerous photos, handshakes, questions, discussions, he still had not managed to get anything to eat, so he left with a doggy bag on to the bus at 2pm.

The PM was accompanied by Margaret Beckett, local MP for Stirling Anne Maguire - and a few others! Thanks from Learning IT to all the people behind the scenes who helped to make it possible and make it a good day, including Sarah, Kate, Sally.

Thanks also to Michael More the butcher from Cambusbarron for putting on great food and thanks also to all the security folks who managed to get their jobs done while training continued (more or less) as normal!