In collaboration with University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) Training Centre, Youth charity The Prince’s Trust, aerospace giant Boeing joined forces to help develop young people’s professional skills in the area of advanced manufacturing.
The Prince’s Trust Get Started with Product Design is a five day training programme, combining the best of the AMRC Training Centre’s existing, well-respected Manufacturing Camps with the mentoring and life-skills support offered by The Prince’s Trust. The aim will be to give young people from across the region a flavour of what it takes to be an apprentice and embark on a rewarding career in manufacturing.
This pilot programme, to take place in July, is aimed at young people aged 16 to 25 who are not in education, training or employment and has been made possible as part of Boeing’s extensive programme of community engagement initiatives. Boeing’s initiatives in the UK communities where they work are focused on inspiring young people to take an interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics at school and beyond. Training Centre head of operations, Kerry Featherstone, said: “Our aim, from the very start, has been to bridge the manufacturing skills gap while promoting social mobility by being as open and inclusive as possible.
“This is another step on the road to ensuring young people are able to make the most of their potential, despite the barriers they currently may face.” The Prince’s Trust has a dedicated Outreach Team and will recruit young people from the local community who want to benefit from the programme. Young people taking part in the five day training course will get hands on experience of a range of design and manufacturing technologies and the chance to work as a team to design and make a product that could be used by airline passengers. They will also see the latest additive manufacturing and virtual reality technology in action as well as receiving free practical training designed to enhance their career prospects.
Following successful completion of their training the young people will receive three months of professional and pastoral support, designed to help them move into education, training or employment, which could include returning to the AMRC Training Centre as an apprentice, with the opportunity to go on to study for a degree. Further support and advice will also be available for anyone who doesn’t have appropriate qualifications for a place at a college or as an apprentice.
“The future of the aerospace industry in the UK relies on young people today choosing to train in technical and engineering fields. I am proud to say that the ‘Get Started With Product Design’ course is a powerful first step on that journey,” said Sir Michael Arthur, president, Boeing UK & Ireland. “I wish all the trainees the best of luck and I hope to see some of them working in aerospace in the future.” Karis Eaglestone, Corporate Partnerships Manager at The Prince’s Trust said: “We are thrilled to partner with Boeing and the ARMC on this innovative programme. We hope it can go some way to bridging the manufacturing skills gap whilst providing disadvantaged young people in the region with the skills, motivation and confidence to move into training or employment.”
