Johnson Matthey Plc, the speciality chemicals company and world leading catalyst manufacturer, in association with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and the Automotive Council UK, today hosted a careers development day for careers advisers and senior science, technology and engineering staff. The event was held at Johnson Matthey’s headquarters in Royston, Hertfordshire.
The Business Secretary Vince Cable attended the event to launch the Government’s See Inside Manufacturing initiative. He said: “The See Inside Manufacturing programme is an important step in giving thousands of school pupils, teachers and careers advisers the opportunity to see firsthand the essential role that industry plays across the UK to help us achieve the sort of sustainable and balanced economic growth that the country needs. The Government is investing in more apprenticeships than ever before. Together with industry we must inspire more young people to see manufacturing and engineering as a viable and exciting career choice. We also need to ensure that UK manufacturing can take on its competitors head on and make the next decade one of the most dynamic and entrepreneurial periods in our history.”
“The UK automotive sector boasts an outstanding array of career and skills opportunities within some of the most dynamic and best known companies in the world,” said Paul Everitt, SMMT Chief Executive. “See Inside Manufacturing is a great opportunity to demonstrate the diverse and exciting range of careers that are on offer, enticing a future generation of engineers into the automotive sector and strengthening the UK’s long-term skills requirements.”
During the day, Johnson Matthey, a FTSE 100 company and Queen’s Award for Enterprise winner, explained the career options open to students of all levels, including apprenticeships and graduate programmes. It highlighted the skills required to succeed in environmentally sustainable research and manufacturing, an increasingly important part of the automotive industry.
The day showcased Johnson Matthey’s work as a global leader in autocatalyst development and production. The company develops and manufactures chemically reactive materials that clean up harmful exhaust gases as well as catalysed soot filters that prevent diesel particulates from polluting the air. Visitors were guided around the company’s Emission Control Technologies business’ flagship manufacturing and development facilities on the Royston site.
Neil Carson, Chief Executive of Johnson Matthey, said: “We’re excited to be a part of this important initiative to get young people interested in a career in manufacturing and to challenge perceptions that Britain doesn’t make anything anymore. Talented school leavers and graduates are the UK’s most precious asset. We want to nurture the next generation of experts who will help Johnson Matthey to create a sustainable future well into our third century as a manufacturing company.”
The company will be holding another event in October, aimed directly at school leavers, students and graduates. Both events are part of the See Inside Manufacturing initiative, launched earlier this year, and open to all young people in the UK
