A training provider has made a significant investment into an interactive engineering van aimed at getting more people into the industry.
The new piece of kit, put together by North Staffordshire Engineering Group Training Association (NSEGTA), will be touring schools, organisations, careers fairs and community events to give people a taste of life in engineering.
Daily Focus reported earlier this year about local firms in the sector struggling to fill their vacancies.
Paul Williams, CEO of NSEGTA, which is based in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, hopes the van will help to spark an interest in more potential apprentices.
He said: “Engineering can offer rewarding and fulfilling careers.
“Unfortunately, our local engineering firms are losing a lot of talented people, mostly due to retirement. Those skills have taken generations to build up, but there aren’t enough people coming into the trade, even though the jobs are there.
“To save the future of engineering companies locally, we need to introduce more people to careers in engineering – and the good thing about apprenticeships is that they can be done at any age.”
He added: “We have been thinking about how to reach out to people for some time and believe the van works at a level that is fun and inspiring.”
Activities inside include a high-tech virtual welding machine, CAD software and interactive panels such as a fault-finding one.
A launch event for the van was attended by 29 employers and several apprenticeship candidates. Since then, 21 school-leavers have enrolled with NSEGTA and three have interviews arranged with companies.
A full-time school liaison officer has been recruited to help promote the van and deal with bookings.
Anyone interested in finding out more should email [email protected].
