More manufacturers open doors to young people
More young people and teachers will get behind the scenes of the manufacturing industry thanks to an expanded government and industry scheme
Young people and teachers get behind the scenes of the manufacturing industry. Photo courtesy of McLaren.
More young people and teachers will be given the chance to get behind the scenes of the manufacturing industry thanks to an expanded government and industry scheme, Business Secretary Vince Cable announced today.
See Inside Manufacturing (SIM) involves businesses opening their doors to young people and teachers, allowing them a first-hand view of modern manufacturing and the exciting careers available.
SIM will now be expanded from 3 to 10 sectors with 7 new industries joining automotive, aerospace, and food & drink.
Business Secretary Vince Cable said,
See Inside Manufacturing plays an important part in challenging outdated perceptions of manufacturing. In the past year alone it has helped thousands of young people see just how dynamic the industry is, with nearly nine in ten saying they would now consider a career in manufacturing.
Today’s expansion sees seven more sectors involved, including oil and gas, offshore wind and the life sciences, all of which are crucial to supporting the growing UK economy. I share the enthusiasm shown by manufacturers to inspire young people to get involved in these rewarding careers.
SIM is part of the industrial strategy work to ensure business can attract the talent they need for growth. The full list of sectors taking part is:
- automotive
- aerospace
- nuclear
- oil & gas
- offshore wind
- construction
- life sciences
- electronics
- chemicals
- food and drink
The Business Secretary announced the extension ahead of a conference to mark the one year anniversary of the government’s industrial strategy being held next week.
Led by trade bodies in each sector, the SIM initiative will be expanded as widely as possible with a particular focus on those who are under-represented in manufacturing, including women, ethnic minority groups and disabled young people. Manufacturers in each industry sector will provide young people and teachers with insight on the diversity of career opportunities offered by manufacturing. This year the range of manufacturers involved will expand to include supply chain businesses and small and medium-sized businesses.
For those interested in finding out more, the See Inside Manufacturing portal has further information: www.bis.gov.uk/seeinsidemanufacturing
Notes to editors
- The SIM initiative involves young people aged 11-19 years.
- In June 2011, SIM was piloted in the automotive sector during which 35 companies hosted nearly 100 events across the country. In 2012, SIM was extended to include the aerospace and food & drink sectors – reaching nearly 4,500 people.
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Exit survey evaluation from the 2012 programme showed that: * 90% emerged from events with more positive views of manufacturing * 85% of young people will now consider a career in manufacturing * 85% of teachers and careers advisors will now explore scope for more regular engagement between students and local manufacturers
- From October 2013, SIM will take place every October to allow the initiative to align more closely with the autumn school timetable, making it easier for schools and teachers to organise visits for their pupils.
- The government’s economic policy objective is to achieve ‘strong, sustainable and balanced growth that is more evenly shared across the country and between industries’. It set four ambitions in the ‘Plan for Growth’, published at Budget 2011: * to create the most competitive tax system in the G20 * to make the UK the best place in Europe to start, finance and grow a business * to encourage investment and exports as a route to a more balanced economy * to create a more educated workforce that is the most flexible in Europe
Work is underway across government to achieve these ambitions, including progress on more than 250 measures as part of the Growth Review. Developing an Industrial Strategy gives new impetus to this work by providing businesses, investors and the public with more clarity about the long-term direction in which the government wants the economy to travel.