A DELEGATION of Canadian officials have toured South Gloucestershire’s major employment and education hubs.

Alan Kessel, the Deputy High Commissioner for the Canadian High Commission, Trade Commissioner Jason Kee and Lee Thornton, technology partnership manager, joined Cllr Ian Boulton, chairman of South Gloucestershire Council, who hosted the visit.

They visited Parkway Station and aircraft manufacturer Airbus, in Filton, followed by a tour of nearby GKN Aerospace.

The group then made its way to Emersons Green to visit the National Composites Centre and the Bristol and Bath Science Park where they were joined by council chief executive Amanda Deeks and science park chief executive Bonnie Dean along with other invited guests The final stop of the tour was Bristol Law School, based at the University of the West of England.

Cllr Boulton (Lab, Staple Hill) said: “After many weeks of planning it is a genuine pleasure to be able to introduce Mr Kessel and his team to South Gloucestershire. I trust that the conversations he had may open exciting new opportunities for some of our world class businesses.”

Ms Dean, from the science park, where there are now more than 60 science and technology companies in operation, said the centre is rapidly emerging as a technology hub in the UK to rival some of the most established high tech clusters around the world.

“We’re delighted to have shown the Canadian delegation around the impressive facilities here at the science park today,” she said.

“And even more importantly, we were delighted to introduce them to some of our growing community of innovative science and technology related businesses, with a view to forging new partnerships and opportunities for the future.”

Mr 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.”