- UK Government’s See Inside Manufacturing scheme helps inform young people about a career in manufacturing
With careers in manufacturing in focus, GKN Aerospace hosted a group of young people from Lealands school at its Luton site on 21 June - as part of the UK government’s ‘See Inside Manufacturing’ initiative.
The youngsters spent the day at the company’s facility where they saw the team manufacture high performance products such as optically critical fighter aircraft cockpit canopies and the cockpit windows for some of the world’s most successful passenger aircraft. The group also saw the Luton team work on advanced ice protection systems for aircraft such as Bell’s unique V-22 Osprey ‘tiltrotor’ aircraft and Boeing’s new 787 ‘Dreamliner’.
Simon Tennant, HR Manager at GKN Aerospace, explained: “Our aim has been to open the eyes of these students to what it is like to work in advanced engineering today – to give them a chance to see a modern factory at work and experience a real working environment. We also wanted these young people to get involved in activities that apply some of the principles we work with and to leave us with a clear sense of how rewarding a career in engineering can be.”
Simon added “As a country we have a significant shortage of technically qualified people with the vital skills our manufacturing industrial base needs. The UK government’s SIM initiative offers industry a valuable opportunity to spread a greater understanding of the range and variety of opportunities a career in the manufacturing sector offers.”
The Luton site employs 380 of the GKN Aerospace’s worldwide total of 9,000 staff and is a global market leader in the design and manufacture of complex, optically critical cockpit transparencies and advanced ice protection systems.
Photo caption:The visiting group at GKN Aerospace in Luton include (L-R): Chris Johnson, EMAS/Careers co-ordinator for Lealands High School, Tyler Elliott , Karol Augustyn, Jack Worth, Katie Pye and Zac Holland and their host Simon Tennant, Human Resources Manager, GKN Aerospace Transparency Systems, Luton.
Editor’s Notes:
See Inside Manufacturing (SIM) is a joint initiative between UK Government’s department for business, innovation and skills (BIS) and industry. It is designed to change outdated perceptions of manufacturing in the UK and build awareness of the careers opportunities available in the sector. SIM aims to inform careers influencers about manufacturing, as well as engaging directly with young people, to ensure that future skills provision is catered for. The SIM initiative was launched by Business Secretary Vince Cable in January 2011. The automotive sector piloted SIM in 2011. In 2012, for the entire month of June, the aerospace & defence and the food & drink sectors join the initiative.
GKN plc is a global engineering group. It has four divisions; GKN Driveline, GKN Powder Metallurgy, GKN Aerospace and GKN Land Systems, which operate in the automotive, aerospace and land systems markets. Approximately 44,000 people work in GKN companies and joint ventures in more than 35 countries. GKN is listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE: GKN) and recorded sales of GBP6.1 billion in the year to 31 December 2011.
GKN Aerospace is a world leading global first tier supplier of airframe and engine structures, components, assemblies, and transparencies to a wide range of aircraft and engine prime contractors and other first tier suppliers. It operates in three main product areas: aerostructures, engine components/sub-systems and special products. With sales of GBP1.5bn in 2011, GKN Aerospace has a global customer base and operates in both civil and military markets, with significant participation on all major aircraft programmes.
For further information, please contact:
Sandra Fearon, Public Relations Manager for Aerospace, GKN Aerospace