Automotive Industry Leaders Head to Rockingham Motor Speedway
ALL eyes will be on Northamptonshire next weekend as the county prepares to host one of the UK’s richest sporting events – the British Grand Prix. However as the motorsport elite head to Silverstone, some of the leading figures within the automotive industry will be gathering at the neighbouring Rockingham circuit for a major education conference.
The Big Industry – Big Opportunity conference has been organised by the Education Enterprise Foundation (EEF), in partnership with Rockingham, to highlight the importance of the UK’s automotive industry.
Industry leaders from BMW, Toyota, Volvo, Chrysler, Halfords and Volkswagen will share their experience with around 100 delegates consisting of careers advisors, teachers, youth project workers and other educators.
The event takes place on Thursday (July 7) as part of the Government’s See Inside Manufacturing programme, and aims to promote the training and career opportunities open to young people across the East Midlands.
Business Secretary Vince Cable said: “The See Inside Manufacturing programme is an important step in giving teachers and careers advisers the opportunity to see first-hand the essential role that industry plays across the UK to help us achieve the sort of sustainable and balanced economic growth that the country needs.
“The Government is investing in more apprenticeships than ever before. Together with industry we must inspire more young people to see manufacturing and engineering as a viable and exciting career choice.
“We also need to ensure that UK manufacturing can take on its competitors head on and make the next decade one of the most dynamic and entrepreneurial periods in our history.”
President of IMI and Aftersales Director of BMW (UK) Ltd Steve Nash will provide the keynote address and will be joined by other guest speakers representing all areas of the industry from sales, manufacturing to quick service workshops.
In addition to the conference, there will also be stands providing information on a range of employment and training programmes from organisations which work with young people within the automotive and motorsport industry.
Delegates will also be able to observe the Midlands heat of the Greenpower Schools Challenge, which promotes engineering and technology careers to students aged nine to 25, through projects to design, build and race an electric car.
Director of EEF, Graham Lloyd, said: “The event will be a fantastic opportunity for delegates to hear first-hand from people who are passionate about this vibrant and exciting industry.
“We already have over 100 delegates who work within education, but we are also keen to open the event to parents who may have a child interested in seeing what the automotive industry has to offer.
“As the industry continues to grow young people wishing to join it will need both the support of their parents and local jobs to go into. This will be great opportunity for those who help offer young people careers advice to find out more.”
Chief Executive of Rockingham, Charlotte Orton, added: “At Rockingham we have always believed in playing a part in promoting the automotive industry as a great place to work. Our concern goes beyond motorsport, and we need to play our part in making sure the important industry which serves it continues to be successful.”
The conference is a not-for-profit event and delegates are asked to make a small contribution of £10 towards the running costs. If you would like to attend the conference or require further information please contact Christine Goodwin at chris.goodwin@rockingham.co.uk or call 01536 270030.
The event is the first of two at the Northamptonshire circuit in 2011, with the second event taking place at Rockingham on October 12. This will focus on providing young people with the chance to consider the opportunities available across the automotive industry.
The programme will offer a range of interactive activities, provided by employers, colleges and universities, the Army and other Rockingham and EEF partners.
