UK businesses must improve image of manufacturing warns Business Secretary

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and Business Secretary Vince Cable visited a West London factory ahead of the Government's Manufacturing Summit later that day, where Clegg asked cutting edge UK businesses to open their doors to students and teachers in a week long national event. "I want our young people to see that British manufacturing offers well paid and rewarding careers," he said. "Not many of them will know that several electrical engineers are almost as well paid as lawyers and solicitors. Throwing open the doors of our factories to the engineers of tomorrow will show them that the satisfaction of making things is hard to beat." Vince Cable said he was shocked to hear that a recent survey found 49% of 7 to 11 year olds thought it would be boring to be an engineer. "They could not be more wrong," he argued. "That's why Government and industry agree that we have to improve the image of manufacturing if we are to attract the brightest and best into industry. Holding a factory doors open week will help us dispel the myth about engineering jobs, and show they are challenging, exciting and well paid." Skills Minister John Hayes also announced yesterday a new National Skills Academy for composites and biotechnology. The Academy, which will form part of the National Skills Academy for Process Industries, will receive up to £1.98million of funding over three years. Working in conjunction with employers, the Life Sciences Advisory Council, the National Composites Centre and specialist training providers, it aims to develop new professional standards and training programmes to meet the fast evolving skills needs of these hi tech industries.