7:40am Friday 2nd March 2012
FIGURES from commerce and industry have teamed up to help jobseeking students in Worcestershire and Herefordshire.
More than 250 students from Worcestershire and Herefordshire, including schools from across he two counties, will meet at Worcester’s Sixways stadium to put their own talents to the test in the Business Game, coming up with solutions to the real-life problems of business and engineering.
They will meet today at the Worcester Warriors stadium for the challenge. The Game is this year promoting engineering and is expected to play a role in leading more firms to explore internships and apprenticeships.
Supporters include entrepreneur Cecil Duckworth, chairman of Worcester Warriors, Worcester Bosch, which, with machine tool firm Yamazaki Mazak, are joining forces to back the initiative.
Both firms employ apprentices from the age of 16 to train as tomorrow’s engineers and jointly employ 60 apprentices.
Business Game organiser Celia Adams, an accountant who helps turn around firms experiencing difficulties, said: “The amount of talent in the one venue will be formidable.
“This is introducing engineering and manufacturing to business. Factories today are not grimy metal bashing places but, as at Mazak and Bosch, are state of the art.
“Local manufacturing and engineering firms are mentoring and exhibiting, including Worcester Bosch, Yamazaki Mazak, Dytechna, and Malvern Instruments. Also present will be the Universities of Worcester, Birmingham and Oxford and leading firms of solicitors and accountants.
“Engineering and manufacturing firms locally are keen to engage with youngsters and recruit the best young talent to help them emerge from the recession and drive the country’s recovery.”
Dr Damien Cleugh, European marketing manager for Yamazaki Mazak, said: "It is vital that we encourage young people into engineering and manufacturing, a rewarding career choice.”
The engineering industry will need more than 2.2 million employees over the next five to 10 years, yet only 12 per cent of 12 to 16-year-olds surveyed for Engineering UK’s 2011 Brand Monitor said they knew what an engineer did and most saw engineering as less well paid than other professions when, in fact, it offered many opportunities.
The aim is to help ensure that young people consider engineering as a career.
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