The Bradford Manufacturing Weeks initiative is now underway, following a launch event at Bradford College’s Engineering Department, Trinity Green Campus.
The initiative, run by West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce and SkillsHouse, aims to bring together manufacturers, educational institutions, and young people through tours, work experience, seminars, exhibitions, and learning events.
The launch event at Trinity Green Campus, which coincided with National Manufacturing Day, was attended by business guests and employer partners including representatives from headline sponsor NatWest Group, the University of Bradford, Solenis, SkillsHouse, and Azets.
The attendees were welcomed by James Mason, chief executive of West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce.
NatWest delivered a talk on corporate responsibility, followed by Alastair Wood from Bradford University, who showcased regional talent pipelines.
James Haigh, business development and engagement manager, led a tour of the Bradford College facilities and the on-site Bond Bryan Academy.
As part of the launch event, Mr Haigh unveiled industry-leading equipment recently purchased by Bradford College.
The kit was made possible thanks to a £944,000 Local Skills Improvement Fund investment.
The state-of-the-art equipment includes a NIKON SLM 3D metal printer, a 4-axis CNC machine from XYZ, Formlabs resin printers, and Solar PV renewable energy and storage training rigs from Quantum Green Skills.
The college also purchased multiple Colchester Student Lathes for its engineering workshop.
In partnership with Skills House, Bradford College will host secondary pupils aged 11 to 16 for a two-day, fully EV-powered, mini go-kart build challenge at Byworth Boilers on October 17, and at Bradford College Engineering Department on October 18.
Students will create designs and use manufacturing methods to build the karts.
Places can be booked via email at andrew.gray@bradford.gov.uk
The event is part of a wider timetable of events for Bradford Manufacturing Weeks, running through to March 2025.
Mark Cowgill, president of Bradford Chamber of Commerce, said: "Bradford has one of the finest manufacturing sectors in the country and Bradford Manufacturing Weeks has done so much good work in giving it new blood.
"Manufacturing can give you a well-paid, secure, and incredibly interesting career that can take your work across the planet."
More information about Bradford Manufacturing Weeks is available at https://wnychamber.co.uk/bradford-manufacturing-weeks/
Endorsed by Bradford Council, Bradford Economic Partnership, and the University of Bradford, the Bradford Manufacturing Weeks initiative has connected an estimated 15,000 students in the region to the manufacturing sector so far.
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