On 28th September 2023, several Composites UK member companies got involved in Make UK’s National Manufacturing Day (NMD).
NMD is an opportunity for manufacturers to showcase the range of highly skilled and well-paid jobs they have on offer by throwing open their doors in a UK wide Open House. Local communities had the chance to see the potential careers and jobs on offer within the manufacturing sector – there are career opportunities for school leavers, graduates and people looking to reskill at all levels.
Here is how a few of our members got involved.
KS Composites
KS Composites invited pupils of Old Dalby Primary School to its 45,000 sqm facility near Melton Mowbray in recognition of National Manufacturing Day.
KS Composites has formed a partnership with the school, representing a significant step towards enriching the educational experience of young minds and fostering a strong bond between the business and education sectors.
The partnership is grounded in a shared commitment to promoting science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. By joining forces, the two entities aim to provide students with unique opportunities to explore the exciting world of engineering and technology, inspiring the next generation of innovators.
MPM
Through its work and connections with Leeds Manufacturing Festival, MPM hosted a factory tour, organised with Leeds City College and Matt Webley. 15 students enjoyed Managing Director, Ben Wilson’s story in manufacturing followed by a Q&A session. Members of the MPM team then hosted the factory tour where the students were amazed by what was possible with GRP/fibreglass and questions flowed whilst on the factory floor with the team.
This has already resulted in one student getting in touch regarding an apprenticeship with MPM. People often ask how you can measure a company/team culture and working environment, but one question hit home and delighted Ben and the team; that was a final question of “Why does everyone seems so happy?”- What a great way to end this event at MPM.
Composite Integration
On National Manufacturing day this year Composite Integration welcomed over 23 attendees, including families, friends, as well as both existing and potential suppliers to tour its offices and factory. The turnout exceeded the company’s expectations, and the feedback received was overwhelmingly positive.
The Open Day served as a platform to strengthen relationships with key partners, demonstrating the collective effort of its team and the strides Composite Integration has made in the industry. The positive engagement received during the event underscored the company’s commitment to excellence.
The event not only strengthened bonds with existing partners but also laid the groundwork for future collaborations. The success of the Open Day is a testament to the dedication of its team, and Composite Integration looks forward to building on this momentum as it continues to strive for excellence.
University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC)
The AMRC’s flagship Factory 2050 facility opened its doors to welcome 150 people, made up of school pupils and members of the public from across South Yorkshire, to celebrate the engineering, innovation and manufacturing sectors. Acting as a hub for some of the region’s change makers to manufacturing, everyone came together under one roof with the aim to inspire, inform and ignite young minds about the possibilities and career opportunities on offer within the industry.
AMRC engineers brought Factory 2050 to life for visitors, showcasing some of the best cutting-edge technologies such as augmented reality (AR), robotics and digital, and gave inspirational TED-style talks about their own experiences working in advanced manufacturing. There was also the chance to get up close and personal with two McLaren show cars and talk with McLaren staff about the composite components that feature on them.
Seeing engineering in action gives visitors a real idea of what the industry is like and gets the interest in their minds.
National Manufacturing Day 2024
National Manufacturing Day takes place annually in September. Look out for announcements from Make UK or Composites UK letting you know the date for 2024.
Composites UK encourages all of its member companies to get involved and showcase composite materials to the future innovators of our country.