Manufacturers invited to attend Bradford Manufacturing Weeks 2019 Launch Event

Local manufacturers can find out more about how the career initiative ‘Bradford Manufacturing Weeks’ can benefit their business at an event next month.

The information morning at Bradford College on 1 May is the first official event to kick start six months of preparation before Bradford Manufacturing Weeks begins on 7-18 October 2019.

With quick and easy registration via the website www.bradfordmanufacturingweek.co.uk/events organisers Bradford Chamber are hoping the event will attract a large proportion of the district’s manufacturers who can find out more about how the initiative can benefit them and support their pipeline of future employees.

Bradford Manufacturing Weeks is led by Bradford Chamber with primary sponsorship from Barclays and backed by Bradford Economic Partnership. It aims to introduce the district’s manufacturers to young people by creating 6,000 work experiences and boost apprenticeship numbers by creating more inspired, informed and ‘work ready’ applicants into the sector. Starting at 8am the two-hour information event will involve a series of short presentations from Bradford Chamber, career specialists Aspire igen, local schools and manufacturers who were involved in last year’s initiative.

Nick Garthwaite, Bradford Chamber president, chairman of Bradford and Airedale Manufacturing Alliance and MD of international chemicals and detergents manufacturer, Christeyns, says the morning will reinforce to manufacturers the benefits of taking part in the district-wide initiative which aims to partner Bradford businesses with local schools and bring inspiring work experiences to pupils.

Nick said: “Bradford Manufacturing Weeks is a fortnight-long initiative to educate young people about career opportunities in manufacturing but it will only be a success if local manufacturers get involved. Our May event at Bradford College will give details on what will be happening during and in the run up to October and the support available to ensure manufacturers can easily open their doors and showcase what they make, how they make it and why a career in this sector is rewarding and diverse.”

He added: “Our steering group includes Bradford Council, career specialists, recruiters, global trainers, legal and financial experts, local schools and Bradford Chamber who are all committed to facilitating the process of getting young people into local manufacturing businesses to see and experience the opportunities for themselves. We have the experts available to help make finding and partnering with schools as straightforward as possible – we just need the manufacturers to offer their workplaces up for visits and experiences to help us inspire today’s school children.”

Delivered in partnership with Bradford-based school and career specialists Aspire igen, Bradford Manufacturing Weeks 2019 aims to double involvement from the 44 manufacturers who took part last year and reach three quarters of the district’s 49 secondary schools. Support has already been pledged from major manufacturers including Princes, Hovis and Cimlogic and the initiative is backed with further sponsorship from E3 Recruitment, Mitton, Gordons LLP, Naylor Wintersgill, Leeds and Bradford Airport, global training provider Dale Carnegie and the University of Bradford. It will complement the Leeds Manufacturing Festival, an initiative co-ordinated by Leeds Chamber of Commerce and Leeds Manufacturing Alliance which also aims to showcase career opportunities to young people.

Andrew Joseph, Director of E3 Recruitment, which specialises in manufacturing and engineering recruitment said the manufacturer information event is one of the most important in the calendar for raising awareness in the lead up to the October initiative.

“The launch on 1st May is about speaking directly to the manufacturers and really demonstrating the value of Bradford Manufacturing Week and the ease with which they can be involved. Our role is to use our years of expertise in recruitment to really support the partnering of manufacturers and schools. We are fortunate to be able to influence our network of clients and encourage them to engage in Bradford Manufacturing Week, further supporting the Bradford Manufacturing Community.

“Having engaged with schools for the past six years, effective altruism is something E3R are really passionate about, as we are aware of the positive effect industry engagement has on young people. Working within manufacturing and engineering we see first-hand the existing skills shortages and also the wonderful career opportunities available to future generations. Therefore Bradford Manufacturing Week gives us the opportunity to promote the benefits of a career in manufacturing and engineering to young people, with both apprenticeships and careers in engineering and manufacturing technologies being one of the highest paid and graduates’ salaries in this area, 10% higher than the average graduate starting salary.” he added.

The Bradford Manufacturing Weeks information event starts at 8am – 10am on 1 May at the Dye House Gallery, Lister Building at Bradford College and will include details about how manufacturers can find and work with schools, the ‘toolbox’ for working with young people, details of ‘what the weeks look like’ and guidelines on how to create positive work experience placements.

Nick added: “This is a crucial first event to help make Bradford Manufacturing Weeks a success – local manufacturers need to be there to understand the magnitude of the opportunity and to sign up and get involved. Our message to all Bradford district’s manufacturers is get in touch, book online, be there and together we’ll make this two-week initiative inspire young people for the rest of their lives!”

To register interest in the Bradford Manufacturing Weeks information event or in Bradford Manufacturing Weeks 2019 please contact the events team at Bradford Chamber on 01274 206660 or email bmw@wnychamber.co.uk. For further information see the website www.bradfordmanufacturingweek.co.uk and for regular updates follow @Bradfordmfg on Twitter.