'Bradford Manufacturing Weeks' Gets Underway with College Engineering Launch Event

BRADFORD, U.K. - Oct. 1, 2024 - PRLog -- Run by West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce and SkillsHouse, Bradford Manufacturing Weeks brings manufacturers, education institutions, and young people together through tours, work experience, seminars, exhibitions and learning events held at manufacturer premises and key locations across the district.

The event which also marked National Manufacturing Day drew special business guests and employer partners, including representatives from headline sponsor NatWest Group, University of Bradford, Solenis, SkillsHouse, and Azets.

Guests were welcomed by West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive James Mason, before hearing more about Bradford Manufacturing Weeks. The event was the first to kickstart a massively expanded timetable of activities, beginning in October and running through to March 2025.

NatWest followed with a talk about corporate responsibility before Alastair Wood from Bradford University showcased regional talent pipelines. Business Development & Engagement Manager James Haigh also led a tour of the Bradford College facilities and on-site Bond Bryan Academy.

As part of the launch event, James Haigh unveiled industry-leading equipment recently purchased by Bradford College. The kit was made possible thanks to a £944k Local Skills Improvement Fund investment, helping to meet skills priorities identified in the Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP).

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. In addition, the College purchased multiple Colchester Student Lathes to enhance the engineering workshop.

James said, "We were very proud to host the team at West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce this week to officially mark the start of Bradford Manufacturing Weeks. We cannot wait to run the special event we have planned with our friends and curriculum partners over at Byworth Boilers Ltd for schools in our district in October as part of the celebrations. Alisha Bell at Byworths is an award-winning female engineer, so an inspiration to our students."

In partnership with Skills House, the schools event will see local secondary pupils aged 11 – 16 participate in a two-day fully EV powered mini go-kart build challenge at Byworth Boilers on 17^th October and at Bradford College Engineering Department on 18^thOctober. To book student places at the event, email: andrew.gray@bradford.gov.uk or visit the Chamber website (https://wnychamber.co.uk/event/17th-18th-october-go-kart-...) for more details.

Find out more and get involved at: Bradford Manufacturing Weeks – West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce (wnychamber.co.uk) (https://wnychamber.co.uk/bradford-manufacturing-weeks/)