Inspired by the inaugural Make UK National Manufacturing Day in 2022, Engineering and Manufacturing businesses across BCP opened their doors to local schools to showcase what they do and promote the range of exciting careers and jobs on offer in the manufacturing sector.
Cllr Broadhead said, “We know that local engineering and manufacturing businesses are facing skills shortages and opening the eyes of our young people to the possibilities of working for them will go some way to addressing their future talent pipeline.”
At a time when the sector is facing enormous challenges – particularly when it comes to skills and nurturing the engineers of tomorrow – the week was key for young people to learn about what engineering and manufacturing offers. Opportunities are truly diverse, as young people across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole discovered. With skilled manufacturing jobs paying around 12% above the national average and facing a significant skills shortage, there has never been a better or more crucial time to join the sector and make a real difference.
“It was a very positive experience and all have agreed that it was enjoyable, informative and explored an opportunity that they may not have thought of before,” shared Michael Garza, Assistant Vice Principal at Oak Academy.
Learners from schools and specialist provision experienced site tours and activities aimed at providing a real insight into working in the sector; highlighting alternative routes post-education, such as apprenticeships, and the range of roles from engineering to finance. Such visits are part of the Gatsby benchmarks for good careers education, providing encounters with employers and employees and experiences of workplaces, but can often be challenging for schools to arrange. Further visits are planned through March for schools who were unable to participate in the dedicated week.
Sharing why Yunex had been part of the event, hosting both South West Regional Assessment Centre (SWRAC) and Linwood Schools, Thea Watts, Operations Business Development explained,
“I’ve never met a group of more enthusiastic, energetic, and polite young people, and what a brilliant time we had! We took them on a tour of our facility here in Poole, showing them full life cycle of our products. The ever amazing Dominik Rozanski show cased some of our push buttons and all the group got to test the products – with 100% pass rate – of course!
“They fired so many questions at us and were very engaged, which made my day. I can honestly say this has been one of my most favourite of days here in the Yunex factory.”
Relationships have been formed between education and the brilliant businesses involved; Beagle Technology Group, Carlisle Fluid Technologies, Mauveworx, RNLI, Sentinel Fire and Security, Sunseeker and Yunex Traffic.
MakeUK’s next National Manufacturing Day takes place on Thursday 28th September – more information can be found here.