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Fujitsu Telecommunications Europe Limited


Fujitsu Spotlights Global Workforce Talent with Prime Ministerial Visit

The Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Home Secretary Jacqui Smith visit Fujitsu Telecommunications Europe as Points System Goes Live


Birmingham, 29th February 2008 — Fujitsu Telecommunications Europe Limited today welcomed the Prime Minister Gordon Brown and the Home Secretary Jacqui Smith to its UK headquarters today, as Britain introduced the new points system for foreign nationals wanting to work in the country. Eight percent of the total workforce at the company’s specialist European telecommunications headquarters is drawn from overseas, highlighting Fujitsu’s advocacy of bringing in expertise from around the world.

Chief Executive Officer Andy Stevenson and Chief Operating Officer Tony Oppenheim led the party that welcomed the ministerial visit, with Immigration Minister Liam Byrne accompanying the Prime Minister and the Home Secretary. Andy Stevenson commented:
“Our ability to draw from a global talent pool has been a major contributor to our growth, innovation and productivity. By attracting highly skilled people from every continent, we have increased our knowledge base extensively, and most certainly improved our competitiveness in an extremely fast paced business environment. We welcome capable, talented and highly skilled workers, and our objective of recruiting the very best people for our business has created a culturally diverse and stimulating environment to work in. We are delighted to welcome Gordon Brown, Jacqui Smith and Liam Byrne to our HQ today, and to introduce them to some of our dedicated and expert international workforce.”

Part of the worldwide Fujitsu Group, Fujitsu Telecommunications Europe designs, develops and manufactures telecommunications technology for the European market from its UK headquarters in the West Midlands, specialising in supplying access network solutions to telecoms operators and service providers across Europe. Its technology is installed in telephone exchanges and commercial premises, delivering broadband services to millions of homes and businesses, with over 5 million lines of DSL broadband installed in the UK alone. Fujitsu plays a key role in the development of next-generation networks, and is contributing to BT’s 21st Century Network (21CN) programme – the largest project of its type ever undertaken. Another part of the Fujitsu Group, Fujitsu Services, is a major contributor to today’s announcement. Fujitsu Services is the Border and Immigration Agency’s chosen technology partner for the delivery of PBS. The company has developed the Sponsor Registration application, is providing the underpinning infrastructure and will support PBS under Fujitsu Services’ existing Managed Service with the Home Office.

With this emphasis on leading edge technology, Fujitsu welcomed the clarity and greater transparency under the new Points Based System (PBS), with the streamlined process helping companies to fulfil skills gaps more speedily, and maintain competitive advantage. The extension of initial duration from 2 to 3 years for highly skilled workers will translate into a significant business benefit, enabling the company to attract and retain skills and knowledge within the business. The changes in rules around recruiting graduates from UK universities directly supports Fujitsu’s Graduate Development Programme, ensuring that the company can access the best talent from an even wider resource pool. With 80 skilled workers from the Indian continent, the fact that the PBS is initially being implemented in India as the largest client for the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP) ties in closely with Fujitsu's recruitment strategy. PBS is also introducing a new licensing system for employers recruiting from overseas to bring in skilled workers, and who subsequently want to extend their stay in the UK. As a key beneficiary of skilled migrant workers, this is a step that Fujitsu fully supports, reflecting its responsibility and commitment to managing the system diligently.


About Fujitsu

Fujitsu is a leading provider of customer-focused IT and communications solutions for the global marketplace. Pace-setting device technologies, highly reliable computing and communications products, and a worldwide corps of systems and services experts uniquely position Fujitsu to deliver comprehensive solutions that open up infinite possibilities for its customers’ success. Headquartered in Tokyo, Fujitsu Limited (TSE:6702) reported consolidated revenues of about 5.1 trillion yen (US$43.2 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007.
For more information, please see: www.fujitsu.com

About Fujitsu Telecommunications Europe

Fujitsu Telecommunications Europe Limited is a major supplier of Broadband Access equipment in Europe and is Fujitsu’s worldwide design location for access network solutions – including a centre of excellence for the development of Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) technology. From its base in Birmingham, West Midlands, Fujitsu designs, develops and manufactures telecommunications technology for the European market, and its technology accounts for over 5 million lines of DSL broadband in the UK alone. The company’s advanced technology has resulted in the Queen’s Award for Enterprise: Innovation 2005.
For more information, please see: uk.fujitsu.com

Note to Editors:

During the visit to Fujitsu Telecommunications Europe, the Prime Minister and the Home Secretary met and spoke with a number of employees from Fujitsu's migrant workforce, including Amaresh Shukla (joined Fujitsu in April 2007 from India); Immad Mir (joined Fujitsu in January 2007 from Pakistan); Takeshi Miyagawa (joined Fujitsu in April 2004 from Japan) and Libo Ma (joined Fujitsu in October 2006 from China).


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Georgina Garrett/Simon Jones

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Debbie Glover

Fujitsu Telecommunications Europe Limited
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Fax: +44 (0)121 717 6018
Website: http://uk.fujitsu.com
E-mail:d.glover@ftel.co.uk

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