Clegg calls for site tours to attract school leavers
1 min read
UK manufacturers have been urged to throw open their doors to schoolchildren as part of a government bid to showcase careers in the sector. Factory tours will help dispel prejudices that the industry was "dirty, boring and poorly paid", ministers told a manufacturing summit today (25 January).
Nick Clegg (pictured), deputy PM, said: "I want our young people to see that British manufacturing offers well paid and rewarding careers. Throwing open the doors of our factories will show them the satisfaction of making things is hard to beat."
Students and teachers will be invited to tour selected manufacturing sites under government plans. Ministers have also offered to partner with industry to hold fairs promoting manufacturing vigour to local communities.
Business secretary Vince Cable said the measures will help rekindle public pride in manufacturing. "You hear this negative view that Britain doesn't produce anything...its actually wrong. My starting point is getting away from all that negativity. We want to make it clear how much we value our manufacturing sector."
Clegg and Cable pledged five key commitments to help support industry. These included providing a stable macroeconomic environment, lower tax and freer access to finance from banks.
Clegg also vowed to deliver more adult apprentices into industry. He said: "The message from today's event is that we as a government understand it's time we rediscover our capacity for innovation and design."
Ministers will garner feedback on the blueprint in a series of breakout sessions being held with manufacturing representatives this afternoon.
See more in the February issue of WM.
