The UK government is attempting to encourage youths to consider a career in manufacturing through its See Inside Manufacturing program, involving Formula One company McLaren.
The McLaren Manufacturing Challenge, which has been running for three years, is part of the program, and aims to show youths that the importance of engineering in everyday life.
“See Inside Manufacturing plays an important part in challenging outdated perceptions of industry,” said Vince Cable from the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills.
“The manufacturing sector is crucial to building a stronger economy — supporting two and a half million jobs and contributing almost £140 billion a year to the UK.
“Working with business I want to inspire young people to see just how dynamic the industry is.”
As well as automotive, the program involves aerospace, nuclear, oil and gas, offshore wind, construction, life sciences, electronics, chemicals and food & drink industries.
Students from three schools involved in the McLaren Manufacturing Challenge showcase each had to design and make a model Formula One car, with these raced against each other.
Alan Foster from the Formula One company said, “There is still an outdated perception among young people that this is an oily-rag industry and doesn’t represent an exciting career choice.”
The BBC reports that unemployment stands at nearly 1 million people under 25 in the UK. The program hopes to attract jobseekers and graduates to manufacturing.
Industry group EngineeringUK believes that engineering companies will have 2.74 million job vacancies in the decade 2010-2020.
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