Youngsters considering their career options are being encouraged
to pick up a copy of a handy new guide at this year’s British International
Motor Show in Birmingham. Careers in the Motor Industry was today launched by
Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt MP, who visited the Show on the
first-ever Careers Day.
The guide reflects the huge range of opportunities in an industry
which employs more than three quarters of a million people in vehicle design,
manufacture and support. Featuring case studies, further education courses and
on-site training, Careers in the Motor Industry offers help to those who are
already on the road to a motor industry career, and a taster to those who are
thinking about it for the first time.
Careers Day at this year’s Motor Show has been organised in
conjunction with the Campaign to Promote Engineering (CPE), which is part of
the Engineering Your Future stand in Hall 4 at the NEC. Starting here, visitors
from school age to graduate will embark on a ‘careers trail’ around the show,
visiting graduates and apprentices on participating stands to listen to their
experiences and expert advice.
More than 7,000 young people are expected to take part in the
careers trail. Those who complete it can enter a draw to win prizes like tickets
to the Rally of Great Britain.
Christopher Macgowan, chief executive of the Society of Motor
Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), the Motor Show organisers, commented, ‘Young
people are the lifeblood of any forward thinking industry. The talented youngsters
of today will be helping create the cars we see at the Motor Shows of tomorrow
and it is our aim to make sure that they receive as much help and guidance as
possible.’
Notes to editors:
- More than three quarters of a million people work in the
Motor industry, including the 237,000 who work directly in the manufacture
of vehicles, components and trailers. - Toyota, Vauxhall, Alfa Romeo, Smart, Bentley, Peugeot, The
Daily Telegraph, Jaguar, Ford, Volvo, Auto Expres, Volkswagen, MG Rover Group,
Honda and Fiat are all participating in the Careers Trail. - The British International Motor Show 2002 takes place at
the NEC in Birmingham from 23 October to 3 November. Careers Day takes place
on 28 October.