VIDEO: Vince reveals vision on his Vauxhall visit
VINCE Cable visited the Vauxhall plant in Luton on Monday to meet young people interested in a career in manufacturing.
The Business Secretary was introduced to some of the students and given a tour of the factory as part of the See Inside Manufacturing launch.
His visit coincided with the announcement that the Government will be putting £170 million into research in the manufacturing industry and working to inspire and support young engineers.
Dr Cable said: “I’m here to try and encourage young people from local schools to see factories in a new way and get rid of some of the myths.
“I want to show them there is a future in the engineering industry.”
Students joined Dr Cable on the tour around the factory and were given talks on careers in manufacturing at Vauxhall.
Toby Isaacs, a student at Harlington Upper School, said: “I’ve been looking at university courses and at first I was thinking of doing something to do with music as that’s one of my interests, but then I realised engineering was for me as I like the problem-solving and things like that.
“Today has shown me that there still is the industry in this country. I was chatting to Vince Cable and he was saying how manufacturing has gone down but he still thinks there’s an industry and it’s on the rise again now.”
Toby is just one of a new generation of engineers who the Government is hoping to inspire with the See Inside Manufacturing scheme, which will run until October 21.
Dr Cable said: “Manufacturing has a key role to play in economic growth and rebalancing the economy, in particular driving exports and productivity.
“The Government is supporting manufacturing through a modern industrial strategy fit for the 21st century.
“We are assisting manufacturing companies and their supply chains directly through the Regional Growth Fund and other schemes and supporting them to build strong businesses via our commitments to apprenticeships and fostering technology.
“We are also challenging the perceptions of what it is like to work in manufacturing and seeking to raise the status and profile of engineering.
Vauxhall managing director Duncan Aldred said: We are happy to be involved in this scheme and this year have taken on apprentices for the first time in several years.
“It really is exciting and the industry is going to be big in the next few years.”
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Weather for Luton
Friday 25 May 2012
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Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 21 mph
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