Hundreds of British manufacturing companies are opening their doors in a UK-wide Open House today (26th September), giving their local communities the chance to see the highly-paid careers and jobs on offer in our exciting and diverse sector.
The events map Find An Event | NMD 2024 (nationalmanufacturingday.org) has showcase celebrations galore to choose from across the whole of the manufacturing spectrum, from engineering to food and drink and aerospace. Visitors can take part in hands-on activities including how to build your own aeroplane, design a circuit board from scratch, 3-D printing, virtual welding and see how lifeboats start production as simple composites. Students will also have the opportunity to talk to apprentices about their careers and speak to the marketing, planning, design and the research teams which are constantly striving to come up with the innovations of tomorrow.
A thousand local school and college students are expected to attend West Yorkshire Manufacturing Services’ showcase of the region’s brightest and best manufacturers, with many companies hoping to inspire visitors into a career in this well-paid sector.
While high-street favourite and cosmetics retailer Lush is just one of many businesses hosting an open day for its local schools and community, visitors to their HQ will get the chance to make their very own bath bomb. They will also see Lush’s Green Hub, the brand’s pioneering investment into the circular economy.
National Manufacturing Day will also give visitors a unique chance to visit the RNLI’s all-weather Lifeboat Centre where the state-of-the-art jet propulsion Shannon lifeboats are designed and built before being launched into Poole harbour for extensive sea trials.
Stephen Phipson, CEO of Make UK, the manufacturers organisation said: “National Manufacturing Day is my favourite day of the year – where the manufacturing sector comes together to celebrate all the amazing things that Britain designs and makes.
“Our companies are at the forefront of technology development and some of the most innovative engineering research and development seen anywhere around the world. This is a sector with a host of wonderful opportunities for people of all ages and we hope this third National Manufacturing Day will help people who have never had the chance to see inside their local businesses a good understanding of what is going on and the opportunities available to them.”
Industry Minister Sarah Jones added: “This new government will put manufacturing at the heart of its Industrial Strategy because good, well-paid jobs will drive the economic growth we all want to see.
“National Manufacturing Day is a chance for us to celebrate the vital contribution great British manufacturing makes to our economy, supporting thousands of skilled jobs across the country and keeping the UK at the cutting edge of innovation.”
Baroness Jacqui Smith, Minister for Skills, said:
“The UK has a long, proud history of innovation in the manufacturing sector and we want to seize opportunities from the industries of the future, so it’s fantastic to see that spirit of enterprise being showcased as part of National Manufacturing Day.
“With the launch of Skills England, we will bring together businesses with trade unions, mayors and training providers to ensure we have the highly trained workforce needed to deliver our national, regional and local skills needs, giving young people the opportunity to get a foot in the door of these industries.”
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