special report i Aero-skills pAnel session
programme, at some point you will fail;
it’s part of the process. Let’s celebrate
success, tolerate failure and create a
better image for the industry.”
John Whalley, CEO, Aerospace
Wales Forum: “The Airbus factory
at Broughton employs about 100
apprentices each year, so there is a bias
towards the ‘manual’ end. Airbus has
many schoolchildren going through its
facility in the [recruitment] build up
and there are far more kids interested
in pursuing these careers than places
available. Airbus has something special;
it’s in the news and has a tremendous
image which attracts people who see the
Joanna Leigh, PRI: “Young people want recognition and opportunities to develop their skills.”
potential, the investment and a long term
prospect in entering this business. The funding to take this forward? Manufacturing Insight initiative which
trick is how we translate this into the Leather: “It’s never too late, but we aims to improve the image of UK’s
smaller companies to make them more need to do something fast. We need to advanced manufacturing.
attractive.” work smarter because funding is available “This needs help and I suggest your
Dr Thurai Rahulan, honorary but we tend to waste it. Re-channelling companies take an interest and get
chairman, Association of Aerospace funds – either at industry or Government involved,” he stated. “It may require
Universities (AAU): “My 17-18 year level – will provide a greater good, but we funding from Government, but this is
old Salford University aeronautical have to be joined up and at times we’re your industry. If you are going to rely
students have this image that mechanical not as joined up as we could be. entirely on Government to change the
engineering means dirty hands and oily “How many companies open their image for you then it won’t happen – you
rags, whereas aerospace engineering is doors and actively encourage children need to do this yourself.”
about glass cockpits, helmet mounted to come in and walk around? It’s very He then gave the following example
displays and heat seeking missiles. easy to point the finger and say it’s regarding the plight of an ‘after school’
Try and convince them that this isn’t Government or the curriculum, but engineering club of Year 7 and 8 kids
always the case and whether they would industry needs to be more proactive. looking to set up some company visits.
consider switching to a mechanical There are reasons like health and safety “The school couldn’t get companies
engineering course and they threaten issues and companies being too busy, but interested, so I contacted a regional
to join another university! I don’t know if we’re serious, we should invite schools trade association: not one positive
where this image comes from, but once to visit SMEs to discover more about response was forthcoming. I then asked
they get it into their heads, it’s difficult what’s happening.” the companies that I knew personally
to remove it. Maybe the problem is Whalley: “It’s easier to get youngsters and arranged three visits for them. If
unique to Salford, but we’ve never had enthused by engineering where there a school club interested in engineering
difficulty in recruiting students into are networks of aerospace related cannot get a single company visit then
aerospace programmes.” excitement, but it’s difficult in areas there is something drastically wrong.”
of the UK that have no manufacturing Perhaps one final comment from the
A joined up approach hubs. What the North West is doing is audience carried the most significance.
The next question concerned the trying to network the smaller companies It made the point that while David
school curriculum and whether the with bigger ones to make them as Beckham and Jonny Wilkinson provide
panel thought it was too late to exciting as the likes of Airbus and huge inspiration to children for the
approach primary and secondary Boeing. Just fixing the school curriculum sports industry, why can’t our industry
school children when engineering has isn’t going to work.” have a hero too – one like aerospace
to compete with ‘sexier’ industries like Roger Bourne, Dept for Business, engineer RJ Mitchell – to inspire
web design, games software/hardware Innovation and Skills (BIS) was among children and get them enthused about
design and media studies. Is there an the audience. He asked that the engineering? ❙
incentive for Government to provide industry supports Government’s new www.aeroconf.com
AEROSPACEMANUFACTURING | jANUARy 2010 17
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