DesignIT! Glass launched for 2011/12 academic year

Oct. 10, 2011 - PRLog -- Last year more than 25,000 students from 550 schools participated in Proskills’ Schools-into-Industry Programmes (SIIP’s), gaining important experience of industry and developing a range of practical skills in the process. Proskills, the Sector Skills Council for the process and manufacturing sector, is now launching the DesignIT! Glass programme for the 2011-12 academic year, aiming to help students develop key skills relevant to the glass industry.

This holds real importance to the future of the industry, particularly given the relentless pace of technological development and its relevance to major contemporary concerns. Glass is part of the fabric of virtually every modern building and the potential impact of technical improvements is correspondingly wide - its unique properties offer a range of opportunities to create high value products which will meet the complex needs of today’s economy.

Chief among these is improving energy efficiency in buildings, which can help businesses save money.  Glass can be used to generate energy, while new products like self-cleaning glass and even glass that changes the amount of light transmitted are now available; we at Proskills want to play our part in educating young people about these possibilities so that the next generation of the workforce will have the skills they need to meet emerging commercial demands.

This commitment is very much in the long-term interest of the glass industry. Attracting talented new entrants and providing relevant, targeted training is crucial to companies’ ability to adapt to wider commercial change and build for the future. Skills and technical knowledge are growing increasingly important to commercial success, and companies that fail to adapt will quickly find themselves left behind.  

The DesignIT! Glass programme will introduce students to the major challenges facing the glass industry and help them develop the key skills that will support its future development. If you would like to get involved in the DesignIT! Glass programme and help ensure that the education system supports the emerging skills needs of industry then please get in touch via the contact details provided below.

For further information on Proskills Schools-into-industry programmes visit www.proskills.co.uk or contact Proskills on 01235 833844

About Proskills:

Proskills UK is the bridge between employers and Government on skills and training. Employer-led by nine key industries, Building Products, Coatings, Extractives, Furniture, Glass, Glazed Ceramics, Paper, Print and Wood industries which make a third of the UK manufacturing sector. Proskills UK helps to raise the profile and sets the skills standards and qualifications for the sector and ensures that the skills and funding delivers against the current and future needs of the industries.

One of a network of employer-led SSC’s across the UK, Proskills is a not-for-profit organisation, whose role is to raise the skills levels and competitiveness in the 80,000 workplaces and 800,000 employees that make up the sector.  This is achieved through researching business skills needs, delivering occupational standards and qualifications, matching skills demand to supply, and securing funding to meet business skills priorities.

About Proskills Schools-into-Industry Programmes

Proskills Schools-into-Industry Programmes are designed to help students develop their practical skills and give them experience of industry. The programmes introduce students to the major challenges facing the print and paper, furniture, ceramics, wood, glass and extractives and minerals processing industries.

The programmes aim to promote the many varied and stimulating career paths available within the process and manufacturing sector. The programmes are designed to complement the curriculum and are directly relevant to several GCSE and A-Level courses.