Two of Britain's leading automotive manufacturers have opened their doors to budding designers and engineers as part of the government's See Inside Manufacturing initiative. Bentley Motors and Jaguar Land Rover invited students to their respective production facilities in order to gain an insight into possible manufacturing careers.
At Bentley's Crewe headquarters, children from surrounding schools learnt about the high levels of individual craftsmanship and engineering excellence that goes into manufacturing the company's luxury range of vehicles. Models including the Continental GT and Mulsanne were on show as students also discovered the difference between modern technology and techniques compared to traditional processes.
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Jaguar Land Rover, the UK's largest automotive employer, will also take part in the programme by inviting school children to its engineering and advanced manufacturing plants. Hands on activities will include CAD CAM and safety test challenges, a tour of the respective sites, and essential interview and CV advice.
"This initiative is a clear indication of the value advanced manufacturing has to the UK economy and as the UK's largest investor in automotive research and development Jaguar Land Rover has a critical role to play in pushing the skills agenda,” said Mike Wright, Jaguar Land Rover's Executive Director. “Only through engagement with young people, be it at school or university, can we develop a truly capable and skilled work force able to compete on a global stage."
Business Secretary Vince Cable added: “For too many young people the word manufacturing is a turn off. A worrying poll out last week found that only one out of ten children aged 11 to 14 thought that engineering was an important job and even ranked being a politician as a better choice of career!”
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