- Calsonic Kansei opens its doors to local children as part of a co-ordinated national event to promote careers in manufacturing.
Throughout June automotive companies across the UK will open their doors to pupils, teachers and career advisors to promote manufacturing in the automotive sector as part of government’s See Inside Manufacturing initiative.
Supported by the Automotive Council, the initiative is being launched across the UK to encourage young people to take up Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematic (STEM) subjects in order to boost the UK’s skills base.
Calsonic Kansei will invite pupils from local schools to visit its UK plants in Washington and Sunderland to participate in four half-day events, tailored to promote future careers opportunities in automotive manufacturing.
Pupils will tour the Washington and Sunderland plants, receive presentations on manufacturing in the automotive sector, carry out practical exercises and visit the Calsonic Kansei Production Systems Training Centre. The company’s current apprentices will also meet with the pupils to share their experience of working in a manufacturing environment.
John Barnett, Senior General Manager for Calsonic Kansei’s manufacturing operations in the North East, said, “Manufacturing is key to the success of the region, and therefore has an impact on every one of the schoolchildren that come on the visit. We need to get young people engaged in what manufacturing actually involves.”
Business Minister Mark Prisk said, “I’m pleased that Calsonic Kansei will be opening their doors to help represent the automotive sector, and dispel outdated perceptions of manufacturing. I encourage people to come along and see for themselves what exciting opportunities exist.”
James Davies, Chairman of Calsonic Kansei in Europe, said, “This initiative will also enable us to assist educational establishments in promoting STEM subjects which are key to improving our national skills base. I have now worked in the Automotive sector for 26 years and I can testify that it is an amazing and dynamic industry, which can offer a vast range of opportunities and experiences to our young people.”
For more information on UK automotive participation in See Inside manufacturing, click here. To discover more about the wider government initiative, click here.
