Teenagers ‘Clean Up’ in Manufacturing at the McBride ‘Make It’ Enterprising Challenge

June 3, 2011 - PRLog -- Schools from across Greater Manchester and Salford will show Senior Managers from McBride – a global manufacturer based in Middleton - that they have what it takes to succeed in today’s modern manufacturing industry when they take part in the one-day Make It with McBride Enterprising Challenge at the Mercure owned Norton Grange Hotel & Spa in Rochdale on Tuesday 07 June 2011.

In a specially designed exercise, teams of 13 and 14 year old boys and girls from 10 local schools will compete to – like McBride - design, create, finance and sell a multi-purpose cleaning product.  Working in their own mini-manufacturing companies the pupils will select individual job roles before working their way through a series of tasks to develop their ideas and help create a marketing campaign to promote their companies.

At the end of the day each team is required to present their product to a panel of senior managers from McBride in a ‘Dragon’s Den’ style presentation with one school being declared the ‘contract winners’ and going through to the Make It Grand Regional Final which will be held in 2012.

This free event is part of The Manufacturing Institute’s ‘Make It in Manufacturing’ campaign (www.makeit.org.uk) which is designed to attract talented young people into the North West manufacturing sector and to promote the industry as one which has a wide range of opportunities for the workforce of tomorrow.  

Stephen Melia, Make It Campaign Coordinator said: “We are delighted to be working with McBride to highlight the many career opportunities that manufacturing has to offer young people.  The North West is home to the UK’s largest manufacturing sector and we want to continue to attract the brightest and best to the sector.”

As a large local employer the McBride’s site in Middleton are keen to show their support to the campaign and will be sending along a project team of managers to lend a hand on the day as well as providing prizes for the winning teams.

Jane Cronin, HR Manager at McBride said: “This is a great event and we are all looking forward to working with local schools and the Manufacturing Institute, to promote jobs in manufacturing.”

Mercure Manchester’s Norton Grange Hotel & Spa in Rochdale are providing the venue and catering for the event as a way of supporting local industry and opening up opportunities for local teenagers across the region.

Reporters and photographers are welcome to attend the event. For further details or to confirm your attendance please contact Edward Moss: 0161 875 2642, mobile: 07794 192677, ed.moss@manufacturinginstitute.co.uk  

Lunch is available between 12.30 and 13.00.

Schools due to attend

1.      All Hallows RC Business, Enterprise and Sports College   Salford
2.      Oasis Academy Media City UK   Salford
3.      St Cuthbert’s RC Business and Enterprise College   Rochdale
4.      Philips High School   Whitefield
5.      Falinge Park High School   Rochdale
6.      Siddal Moor Sports College   Rochdale
7.      Mossley Hollins High School   Mossley
8.      St Thomas More   Denton
9.      Prestwich Arts College   Manchester
10.      Parrenthorn High School   Whitefield

Notes to Editors

1. The Make It in Manufacturing campaign was launched by The Manufacturing Institute in 2006 to shake off the myths and negative perceptions that surround the sector and show the outside world, particularly tomorrow's workforce and potential investors, just how much modern industry has to offer.

2. The Manufacturing Institute (www.manufacturinginstitute.co.uk) is an independent charity - driven by manufacturers for manufacturers. For 15 years The Manufacturing Institute has helped transform manufacturing performance, working with over 4000 companies to help them gain competitive advantage from high impact skills building and productivity improvement programmes.

3. The Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) and European Regional Development Fund are funding a major expansion of the campaign, which is helping to promote manufacturing as an exciting and rewarding career destination for young people.

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Small and medium size North West manufacturers have access to a fully or part-funded manufacturing review to review to assess existing working processes and identify the best areas for improvement.