Young engineers go for gold at The Skills Show 2012

The opening ceremony of the Skills Show 2012 made it clear the event would represent a more comprehensive, high profile and considered approach to the UK's skills issue than most of us are used to seeing. Taking place in the LG Arena of Birmingham's NEC and including dancers, acrobats, music, celebrities and tv personalities – not to mention Business Secretary Vince Cable – the ceremony was clearly designed to start the show with a bang. And it succeeded in no uncertain terms. During the ceremony, Cable outlined the show's essential mission – to raise the profile and prestige of vocational skills training and to attract young people to this route. He said: "I want to see a world where it isn't just the 40% of young people who go to university that we celebrate, but also the others who are acquiring vocational skills and training which is every bit as valuable – if not more so." While acknowledging the difficulties posed by the UK's financial position, Cable nonetheless pointed to the successes already achieved in the area of skills training, citing 1million people currently going through apprenticeships – a figure that has risen by 60% in the last two years. By its nature, however, the opening ceremony was only going to offer a taste of what was to come. As it transpired, 70,738 people visited The Skills Show, not only seeing demonstrations of skills in action, but also receiving information and advice on careers and training opportunities. More than 60 'Have a Go' areas allowed visitors the chance to try a 'bite sized' activity in a new skills area, while more than 50 Spotlight talks by industry experts provided an insight into the realities of working in vocational skills. In addition to providing onsite advice, careers advisors made appointments with more than 1000 young people to offer one to one interviews and counselling following the show, to help them to find the best training course, apprenticeship or job for them. The Skills Show was not only a showcase for the UK's skilled industries, but also a venue at which competitors in the WorldSkills UK competition could display their skills, compete for medals and a chance to take part in WorldSkills 2013 competition in Leipzig. Thus, the show offered a balance between introducing young visitors to professional skills with displays and hands on opportunities and other skilled young people competing in earnest by displaying the skills they had already acquired. More than 500 people took part in 61 WorldSkills UK National Competitions in skills ranging from aeronautical engineering to landscape gardening. The competitors secured a place in the WorldSkills UK Competitions after taking part in regional heats earlier this year. The competitors battled it out to win Gold, Silver and Bronze and, ultimately, to be named the 'best of the best' in the UK at their chosen skill. Amongst the winners was Nick Jones of Reading College, who gained a Gold medal in the industrial electronics – advanced category (for more winners, see box). Exhibitors at the show included colleges, universities and learning providers from across the UK, there to talk to visitors about the different entry routes into a host of career sectors. What's more, some of the biggest names across a wide range of industries were on hand to inspire the next generation. In the engineering sector alone, top employers such as BAE Systems and Jaguar Land Rover showcased their programmes to attract the brightest talent. Although a diverse range of skills was represented at the Show, it was no surprise – given the immediacy of the skills crisis facing their sectors – that engineering and manufacturing were well represented. Chief among these was BAE Systems, which acted as a headline sponsor of the event. BAE Systems, which formed part of the 'Manufacturing Showcase' alongside Jaguar Land Rover, JCB and MBDA, demonstrated some of its latest technologies and capabilities. The exhibit was manned by current and graduated apprentices from across its UK business. As part of its display, BAE Systems invited visitors to 'have a go' at building their own aircraft from an in house premanufactured kit – something that proved predictably popular. It also had a number of apprentices presenting Spotlight Sessions, allowing them to share their experiences and knowledge. Rachael Carr, a BAE Systems apprentice, said: "Our make it challenge is a fun element to try and capture a young person's imagination and get them into an engineering and manufacturing mindset." Kate Watcham, BAE?Systems' head of media, was effusive about the show, saying: "The first SkillsShow was an enormous success and, as the lead sponsor, we were delighted to see so many young people, teachers and parents enjoying the event. Our stand was manned by some of our 1000 UK apprentices, with an additional 15 apprentices taking part in the manufacturing and engineering competitions. I'd encourage any organisation reliant on vocational skills to consider supporting The SkillsShow. It's vital for companies to assist events and programmes that are directly involved in encouraging young people to acquire real skills that will lead directly to employment." Jaguar Land Rover's Showcase stand included 4X4 in Schools Technology Challenge remote controlled vehicle tasters, a Jaguar Primary Schools Challenge reaction time challenge, an Education Business Partnership Centre robot challenge and an immersive technology unit which demonstrates how driver/car connectivity in the future will make the driving experience simpler and safer. Several of JLR's apprentices also gave 'Spotlight' talks about their careers. Les Ratcliffe, JLR's head of community relations, said: "We are pleased to support the Skills Show to inspire young people who are considering their future careers. Jaguar Land Rover is committed to promoting the Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) agenda through our national education programmes to address the national shortage of engineers. The hands on activities at the Skills Fair will give students an insight into the exciting career opportunities available at Jaguar Land Rover and will encourage more youngsters to consider careers in engineering and manufacturing." Electronics was also represented at the event, with Premier EDA Solutions not only sponsoring, but also acting as training provider to those taking part in the national WorldSkills UK Industrial Electronics Competition. Explaining this level of support, managing director Phil Mayo said: "One of our long term goals is to encourage and enable young talented people to enjoy viable careers in the UK electronics industry. Having been involved on the periphery of WorldSkills London 2011, we were delighted to play an active part in WorldSkills UK and were pleased with the Squad UK result of fourth place at EuroSkills 2012. "By providing our expert design skills training for the competitors, we strive to make a positive difference – not just for the competitors, but also for the industry. Seeing their 'skills in action' during the national final at The Skills Show was truly inspirational." Mayo also provided one of the spotlight presentations. "At the session I presented, it was gratifying to see that the curiosity, passion, drive and enthusiasm that defines a good engineer is still present in our youth. They need direction and The Skills Show provided a perfect platform that not only engaged them but also let them realise a breadth of subject areas that they wouldn't otherwise have had chance to experience." Ray Coyle, WorldSkills UK Industrial Electronics training manager, noted: "The World Skills National final in Electronics went extremely well. It exposed competitors from throughout the UK to a robust competition that stretched them to produce their best. It also demonstrated that industrial support is vital in the promotion of excellence and I thank our sponsors for this support and for providing competitors with expert training on the most modern equipment and industrial techniques that they will use in their future career development." Another show sponsor was automation technology developer Festo and the company's Babak Jahanbani was impressed. "We have nearly 400 apprentices at Festo, so this whole business of apprenticeships is quite important to us. Events like World Skills and UK Skills let us see the best amongst apprentices and what they're capable of. Everybody's reservation was that it wouldn't compare to WorldSkills London 2011, but it did. Everything was the same if not better. The show is going from strength to strength and getting bigger and bigger. It was quite an experience." At the heart of the event, however, were the young people themselves. As well as those competing in the WorldSkills Event, others were honoured as part of the ninth National Apprenticeship Awards Ceremony. As part of this ceremony, Jenny Westworth, a Semta certified advanced apprentice, was crowned the first ever national Apprenticeship Champion of the Year. Now a manufacturing engineer at BAE Systems, 23 year old Westworth polled the highest number of public votes from a shortlist of 12 regional winners. The Apprenticeship Champion of the Year award recognises the significant impact that apprentices make to their employer's business development and growth and the former apprentices' role in championing Apprenticeships to schools, young people and the public at large. Westworth, who completed a Semta Advanced Apprenticeship in Aerospace Engineering at BAE Systems in 2010, combines her job working on Typhoon aircraft with studying for an Aeronautical HND. She was nominated due to her significant achievements at BAE Systems and her role as an Education Ambassador for the company and also a STEM ambassador for her region. She was keen to emphasise the value of the vocational education her apprenticeship had given her. "I felt there was much more opportunity from an Apprenticeship and it's given me the chance to see and understand a business from different angles." Also keen to emphasise the value of the vocational route was Beth Sherbourne, who was named was named the Higher Apprentice of the Year as part of the Awards. Aged 22, she has become a senior procurement officer at MBDA missile system's plant in Bolton, having studied for her degree during the four year apprenticeship, supported by Semta, the sector skills council for science, engineering and advanced manufacturing and its training partner EAL. "I was working part time in a supermarket and had intended to go to university," said Sherbourne, "but a lot of my peers had done the same thing and found themselves still working there when they got their degrees. Then I saw the advert for an apprenticeship in engineering and business at MBDA. My experience has made me passionate about how apprenticeships can make a real difference to someone's life and to a business." Engineering Gold Winners at the Skills Show included: Aeronautical Engineering: Avionic – Advanced Simon Todd, Qinetiq Aeronautical Engineering: Mechanical – Advanced Luke Greenaway, Qinetiq Industrial Electronics – Advanced Nick Jones, Reading College Industrial Control – Advanced Meghann Butler, Napier University Mechatronics – Higher David Cargill, Northern Regional College Simon King, Northern Regional College Gold medal winner Nick Jones won a gold medal in industrial electronics – advanced. The 19 year old student, who is following a BTEC L3 Extended Diploma in Engineering, first became interested in electronics when he was about eight. "I watched my Dad do his bits and pieces as he was interested in radios. I just tagged along with that, it rubbed off on me and became a hobby. How did he choose his course? "I didn't want to travel far and I liked engineering, so I chose my course at Reading College as it was close to home. After Premier's pcb skills training, I now know how to layout multilayer boards properly and how to design boards in general. There was a lot of in depth information which was communicated effectively." For more information on skills development issues, go to https://worldskillsuk.apprenticeships.org.uk