Made Here Now, the UK-wide initiative to encourage more young people into manufacturing as a career, is celebrating a major milestone with the launch of a new website containing inspirational videos, success stories and photography.
Backed by 37 sponsors, including Filtermist International, the website is aimed at young people wanting to find out what careers are available in the sector, as well as Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) teachers seeking ways to inspire their own students.
Among the new stories that feature on the website is an exclusive about how Britain is moving up the world manufacturing league table. The article shows that the UK was the world's eighth-biggest nation by manufacturing output in 2015 the most recent year for which internationally comparable data is available with just over 2 per cent of total output. This is according to calculations by Made Here Now based on the latest figures from the United Nations' statistical database.
The new site was previewed at the launch of the UK Manufacturing Review 2016-17, an event attended by many of the initiatives Phase Two sponsors, all of whom predict a bright future for UK manufacturing in the year ahead despite uncertainty following the Brexit vote.
Made Here Nows founder, Peter Marsh, says: I was encouraged to hear from so many of the people attending this launch event that the future is looking bright for manufacturing in 2017 and I believe our new website has a major role to play in inspiring the next generation of makers and manufacturers.
The site features a wealth of resources and inspiring stories, many in video format to appeal to our target age group of 11 to 16 year olds, and I hope it will serve to provide manufacturers with the workforce they will need as we move forward in rather uncertain times.
During this project, I have met many innovative manufacturers and companies, as well as working closely with academics, and all of them are concerned about where the future workforce is coming from so the UK can continue to be at the forefront in this sector.
To succeed in manufacturing, companies need to grow and the website features inspiring stories about how a company like Brompton Bicycles started from small beginnings, but has now just invested £2million in a new factory and is planning to start production of its first electric bike. he added.
Filtermist's section in the new website includes details of work-experience opportunities and the importance of ongoing training to ensure employees are equipped with the skills needed by a manufacturing company that exports products to more than 60 countries worldwide.
Filtermist Managing Director, James Stansfield, comments, We are proud to have a very dedicated workforce here at Filtermist - some of our skilled engineers, including Brian Lowe our Manufacturing Manager, have been making Filtermist units for more than 30 years.
Our global sales significantly increased last year and we have ambitious expansion plans in a number of key areas throughout the business. Ensuring we have the right calibre of people coming into the business is essential if we are to continue growing our global operation.
In addition to our production department which includes metal spinners, welders and assembly operatives, we also have dedicated dispatch, purchase, sales, marketing, installation, service and LEV testing departments. We are proud to be playing a part in raising awareness amongst young people of the wealth of opportunities afforded by a career in manufacturing.
See the new website by visiting www.madeherenow.com