Entrepreneur Dave Spensley has launched Go Ahead Training with the aim of ensuring companies within the manufacturing industry have a deep talent pool to access.
The region’s industrial sectors are undergoing a major revival as the drive to’re-shore’ continues, however there is a lack of talented young people with the skills and attitudes required by employers to help the North East capitalise on its strengths within manufacturing and engineering.
Dave Spensley said: “I have worked in the manufacturing industry for a number of years and know this region is ideally positioned to capitalise on the opportunities which are available, if there are enough talented people out there for employers to access.
“Go Ahead Training will act as the middle man between schools and colleges and industry, so we can ensure we’re equipping young people with the skills and attitudes needed to work within the sectors.
“One of the main challenges is educating young people that there are real jobs out there for them, and that if they work hard and demonstrate a willingness to work and learn, there will be chances to not only progress but also carve out a career for life.”
The firm will initially work with schools and colleges within the County Durham and Teesside areas and has six main programmes of delivery:
- Primary Engineers
- Secondary Engineers
- The Opportunity Programme (NEET prevention)
- The F1 Challenge
- VEX IQ Robotics
- Enterprise Programme
Go Ahead Training is based at The Workplace in Newton Aycliffe and employs three members of staff, with plans to add to the team over the coming months.
Tony Swanwick, a STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) ambassador and former engineer who worked for GEC Telecom and BAE Systems, added: “By providing training programmes that present technical problems in an interesting and challenging way, Go Ahead Training will inspire the young students of today, giving them the skills, motivation, insight and confidence they need to become the leading engineers of tomorrow.
“It is essential to attract students at a young age, by opening their eyes to the many rewarding career opportunities that stand before them.”
Source Article from http://www.bqlive.co.uk/2015/05/08/go-ahead-to-address-manufacturing-skills-gap/
