MP for Newcastle North, Catherine McKinnell, visited local firm and global IT services company DXC Technology, an enterprise services business, on Friday 20 April to learn more about their operations, training and apprenticeship programme. Catherine’s visit took place as part of her Industry and Parliament Trust (IPT) Fellowship – an educational programme which enables MPs, MEPs and Peers to explore the opportunities and challenges facing local employers. 

DXC Technology is an IT and services company formed from the merger of CSC and HPE Enterprise Services in April 2017. Based at Cobalt Business Park near Newcastle, DXC’s Digital Transformation Centre employs around 2,000 people from the local area.

During the visit, Catherine explored how DXC are supporting apprenticeships and developing talent within the North East – in order to build its workforce of the future. She met with a group of DXC’s apprentices who shared their journey at the company and discussed the various projects they are currently working on – and the value of apprenticeships in developing a professional career.

Catherine also met with David Bundy, HR Vice President, and Dr Roger Hood, UK Government Affairs Director, who both gave her a full tour of the site and discussed the paradigm shift occurring in IT services, given the recent era of digital transformation.

Catherine’s IPT Fellowship is helping her to gain an increased understanding of the employment issues and opportunities available across the North East, supporting her work as Co-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Apprenticeships.

Commenting on the visit Catherine said:

“I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to DXC Technology this morning and it is fantastic to see such young and ambitious local talent within the organisation. It was also fascinating to hear about digital transformation, and in particular the challenges and opportunities automation and robotics present to the organisation.”