Tuesday 2 July
UTC Leeds students have been given the opportunity to participate in a travelling carousel; visiting manufacturing employers across the city for a day of engineering experiences. If you would like to host a visit by UTC Leeds Engineering students, please get in touch.
#WECAN Connects is a quarterly event series, supported by Lloyds Bank Business & Commercial, that aims to champion, connect and support women in leadership positions in business.
Following on from International Women in Engineering Day (Sunday 23/6/24), the June edition of #WECAN Connects focusses on how to advance gender equality in manufacturing when only 15% of manufacturing businesses are owned by women, and women represent only 26% of the manufacturing workforce. That’s despite research which highlights the role of gender diversity in enhancing innovation and profitability within manufacturing firms.
Women and allies from manufacturing and those who support the sector are invited to join us as we:
• Hear from women working in manufacturing
• Find out about support available for the manufacturing sector
• Connect with others in the industry
Amanda McLaren, keynote speaker and managing director at event hosts AW Hainsworth, will introduce the company and share her personal career journey as a woman working in manufacturing. AW Hainsworth is a family-run heritage textile mill established in 1783 and based in West Yorkshire, producing exquisite woollen fabrics, high-performing textiles, and iconic British cloth for customers worldwide.
An optional tour of the historic mill will take place 1pm -2pm but places are limited. If you would like to join the tour, this please select the additional ticket when registering.
8am - 11am, Thursday 13 June
LBBC Group is a 145 year-old, fifth generation family-owned engineering business focused around the design and manufacture of pressure containment products.
Its LBBC Technologies division supply autoclave systems to the aerospace casting industry and containment doors for the UK’s nuclear powered submarines. LBBC Beechwood division provides sub-contract engineering services to the UK’s manufacturing sector. LBBC Baskerville division supplies advanced autoclave systems for the global corrosion testing market. Finally, Resomation division has applied the technology and know how to a new form of water-based cremation, offering the funeral industry and local authorities an environmentally friendly alternative to flame cremation.
This is a not-to-be-missed opportunity to visit the company's purpose-built engineering facility in Pudsey, Leeds. The event is part of an invitation-only series of company visits hosted by Leeds manufacturers during 2024, providing manufacturing employers with the opportunity to share insights and learn from best practice within the industry.
This by-invitation-only awards presentation evening for sponsors, participants and supporters of the 2024 Leeds Manufacturing Festival. The evening has become established as a key date in the calendar for the Leeds manufacturing community and recognises the achievements of the sector’s ‘next generation’ talent with awards for apprentice of the year, future manufacturing leader, rising star and manufacturing employer of the year.
Tuesday 11/6/24, 3pm - 4pm
This online session, delivered by festival sponsor Next Gen Makers, is aimed at careers leaders in schools and college and will provide an insight into what careers in engineering and advanced manufacturing look like. It will also look at how the new 'Excellent Engineering Employers' platform can be used to signpost learners to best-in-class employers in your area for engineering and manufacturing apprenticeships.
Visit: www.excellent-employers.nextgenmakers.co.uk
OPM (Labels & Packaging Group) Ltd is a multi-award-winning printer, specialising in manufacture of innovative and high-quality labels and flexible packaging, working with leading brands in multiple market sectors.
As a family-owned business, the company is always on the lookout for great people to join its hardworking team, recognising that the single greatest thing that makes OPM tick is the quality of the team.
If you’re seeking new challenges and an opportunity to demonstrate your skills, OPM Group could be the place for you. Training is available for all positions.
If you require any more information about time slots for our open day, apprenticeships or recruitment, e-mail startyourjourney@opmgroup.co.uk or hit the link below and visit the dedicated recruitment page on the OPM website.
Wednesday 15 May, 8.30am - 10.30am
Join us for breakfast at this Engineering Employers networking event and find out more about how your business can work with Leeds City College and the School of Engineering.
Hear about the range of support available to help develop your talent pipeline and workforce skills for the engineering sector . Find out about our role in apprentice training and recruitment, about the role employers in providing industry placements for our T Level Engineering students. You will also have the opportunity to meet college staff who teach in the School of Engineering and how you can help shape the curriculum to meet your business needs.
Members of Leeds City Council's Employment & Skills team will also be present and will outline the support they can offer to employers to help recruit young people to their apprenticeship training programme.
9am - 12.30pm, Thursday 2 May
Although women represent almost half of the labour force in the UK, they account for just 26% of all workers in the manufacturing sector. Surveys show that a non-inclusive culture to be the primary barrier to women's participation in the sector. This is followed by barriers in promotion and leadership, a lack of awareness and visibility of job opportunities, a lack of skills and training support and work-life balance.
This networking and fact-finding session for students at Crawshaw Academy, delivered by Ahead Partnership on behalf of Leeds Manufacturing Festival, is an opportunity to see beyond the stereotypes and begin breaking down barriers.
From recently qualified apprentices, to highly skilled and experienced technicians and professionals, managing directors and company owners, students will learn that if you can see it, you too can be it. Over 160 students from across all year groups will have the chance to meet, talk to and find out more about the careers of women working in manufacturing and engineering roles at all levels and at all stages of their careers.
8.30am - 10.30am, Thursday 18 April
Next Gen Makers launches its new online careers resource, showcasing the very best employers in West Yorkshire for engineering apprenticeships. For employers, it's a perfect opportunity to showcase the benefits and opportunities working for your company can offer young people. For school careers leaders and advisers, the directory will offer an invaluable resource, allowing you to signpost students to the very best employers in the region and understand more about what it's like to work in modern manufacturing and engineering.
8.50am to 10.50am, Wednesday 20 March
Find out about the opportunities careers in manufacturing offer for young people and hear first-hand what it's like to work for a modern manufacturing company.
Ever wondered what the average day looks like for an apprentice working in the manufacturing sector? What the interview process looks like? Or what’s involved in a manufacturing apprenticeship?
Apprentices, employers and sponsor representatives will answer these and many other questions posed by secondary school students at this live careers panel, to be hosted by Abbey Grange CofE Academy and organised by Ahead Partnership on behalf of Leeds Manufacturing Festival.
11am - 4.30pm, Thursday 7 March
Careers fair for manufacturing employers to showcase their companies, meet students from the engineering faculty at Leeds City College, UTC Leeds and the Ruth Gorse Academy.
Taking place during National Careers Week, it's a perfect opportunity to highlight the wide range of roles and career opportunities available in manufacturing to the next generation.
The event includes break-out sessions on CVs, interview preparation and work readiness and concludes with careers panels for students and teaching staff.
If you're an employer and would like to take part, please contact: Faron.Convey@aheadpartnership.org.uk
8.30am arrival for 9am start and 10.30am close
Thursday 22 February
Join us at at Leeds City College for the official launch event for the 2024 Leeds Manufacturing Festival to learn how manufacturing employers, training providers, key decision-makers and stakeholders are addressing the challenges of recruitment, skills and workforce development. Find out about best practice in training and recruitment
Keynote speakers include Steve Burnell, managing director of Boeing Defence UK, and Fiona McGarry, business engagement lead based at Make UK's national apprenticeship training centre in Aston, who will be joined by Ben Wilson, chair of Leeds Manufacturing Alliance.
Mark Casci, head of policy at West & North Yorkshire Chamber of commerce will also compere an industry panel with representatives from Leeds City College, E3 Recruitment and Next Gen Makers. Cameron Pinder from Kirkstall Precision Engineering and Tyra Jones from Sulzer will also share their experience and why they chose careers in manufacturing.
12 noon - 1pm, Thursday 15 February
Next Gen Makers will be taking a significant step in promoting engagement and recruitment of young talent into West Yorkshire's manufacturing sector with the launch of new resource recognising and champion the best employers for engineering apprenticeships.
The Engineering Apprenticeships: Excellent Employers Directory, which goes live in March, will aid careers leaders and design and technology teachers in high schools and colleges across the region to signpost young people to the best employers for engineering and manufacturing apprenticeships, ensuring young people make the best choices for them.
In this webinar you can learn how your company can get involved and hear the specifics of how the new online directory will work to guide students toward suitable opportunities in engineering and manufacturing apprenticeships. The session will also focus on how engineering employers committed to future proofing skills via apprenticeships can increase the success rate of training schemes by adopting best practice and working towards accreditation through the Make UK Engineering Apprenticeships: Excellent Employer Kitemark.
3pm - 3.30pm
Next Gen Makers is launching a new online directory and careers resource in March, showcasing the best employers for engineering apprenticeships in West Yorkshire region. Ahead of the official launch, this webinar gives careers leaders and advisers working in high schools, sixth forms and colleges in the region an opportunity to find out more about this invaluable new resource.
The directory will It will provide a free-to-access guide enabling you to signpost students to the very best employers in your area for engineering apprenticeships. Highlighting best practice, it will feature companies in West Yorkshire that have achieved the Gold ‘Excellent Employer’ Kitemark, Silver ‘Aspiring For Excellence’ Kitemark, those that are currently ‘Pursuing Accreditation’ and those that are ‘Benchmarking’ their engineering apprenticeships as part of the Best Practice Programme run by Next Gen Makers and accredited by national manufacturing organisation Make UK.
Join Adam Tipper, managing director of Next Gen Makers, and Tawanda Mukombiwa from West Yorkshire Combined Authority's Schools Partnership team to find out more.
8am - 10.30am
Meet the team responsible for producing ceremonial cloths used at the coronation of King Charles III and for full-dress military uniforms, as well as the green baize used on professional 'sports quality' snooker and pool tables, and flame-retardant fabrics used by the emergency services and military personnel around the world.
This is a not-to-be-missed opportunity to take a tour of the historic mill complex which is home to one of the UK's leading textile manufacturers and oldest family-owned businesses.
The event is part of an invitation-only series of company visits hosted by Leeds manufacturers during 2024, providing manufacturing employers with the opportunity to share insights and learn from best practice within the industry.
8am - 2.30pm
Breakfast and lunch provided
UTC Leeds is the city's only University Technical College, offering employer-led academic and technical learning with a focus on engineering and advanced technology. We provide a unique educational experience for students who love science, technology, engineering and maths.
Employers from across a range of STEM sectors will be interviewing and providing feedback to students throughout the morning. This is an ideal opportunity for employers to meet students at UTC Leeds from across al year groups and help them prepare for entering the world of work.
2pm - 7pm
Leeds Apprenticeship Recruitment Fair (LARF 2024) is the biggest event of its kind in the North of England and takes place at the beginning of National Apprenticeship Week. It offers employers the chance to meet and talk to young people about apprenticeships and opportunities for anyone starting out on a career in manufacturing.
Leeds manufacturing employers will be represented in force at the event, exhibiting together on the Leeds Manufacturing Festival stand (D56) and will be advertising live apprenticeship vacancies on the day.
