Lord Digby Jones Calls For Ceramics Manufacturers to Engage With Schools
As Proskills, the Sector Skills Council for process and manufacturing, launches four new Schools Into Industry Programmes (SIIP’s), Lord Digby Jones, former CBI head, challenges British manufacturers to play their part in strengthening the future of manufacturing by engaging with local schools.
British manufacturing, and with it the economy, has suffered hugely in the past few years, and positive action is needed to rebuild the status of British manufacturing as a global leader. The message for this is simple: the UK not only needs to invest in manufacturing’s current workforce but in its future workforce as well.
In order achieve this, Lord Digby Jones has stressed the importance of attracting younger students into the world of manufacturing: “The UK will only get itself out of this economic mess if it trades its way out and sells its goods around the world. That means manufacturing! It is essential we have an education system which delivers young people who want to build careers in manufacturing and who have the skills and mind set to do so.
“That means encouraging businesses around the country to liaise with their local schools and introduce teenagers to the fascinating and worthwhile career opportunities in the vibrant and successful manufacturing sector. There has never been a better time to change this country’s attitude and it is up to businesses to accept the challenge.“
Lord Digby Jones lends his support to Proskills as they look to engage with schools and employers to take part in their new, curriculum mapped SIIP ‘DesignIT! Ceramics’, which aims to educate and excite students towards a career within the Ceramics industry.
DesignIT! Ceramics works by ‘twinning’ schools with local manufacturing employers so they can gain a full understanding of not only the work involved with the programmes they are taking part in, but the wider world of work and future careers within the manufacturing.
The SIIP’s are not just an education programme, they are a national competition where students can enter their work and compete against other students from across the country to win fantastic prizes for both themselves and their schools.
Terry Watts, CEO of Proskills, explains how the SIIP’s can have a positive impact on the British economy, “The future of Britain’s economy lies within manufacturing, and the future of manufacturing lies in bringing through the next generation of skilled employees to push our sector forward.
“It is absolutely crucial that we convey the right message and show the fantastic opportunities that are available within a career in manufacturing, we need to show students that they can embark on a career that could really change Britain for the better.”
Wes Auden, HR Manager at Dudson comments “Whenever we have worked closely with local schools and colleges, we have been impressed by the creative talent of our young people. Their enthusiasm to understand the world of work and the different career opportunities within manufacturing businesses is infectious. Programmes that encourage and prepare future talent for working within UK manufacturing can only be good for the UK economy.”
Terry Watts continues, “Attracting the next generation into manufacturing is a goal that we all must work towards achieving, and it is by launching our Schools Into Industry Programmes that we hope to unite industry leaders with their local schools, giving the students a real insight to what manufacturing is all about, and show them that manufacturing is a sector filled with opportunity.”
If the future of UK manufacturing matters to you, contact your local school and help them open up the world of opportunity it represents to young people. Find out how to get involved with Proskills Schools Into Industry Programmes by logging onto www.theits.org.uk
