Jaguar Land Rover is opening its doors to a host of budding engineers as the automotive industry pioneers the government's first 'See Inside Manufacturing' initiative. Using its long standing and award winning educational programmes, the UK's largest automotive employer will provide school children from around the Midlands and Northwest with a unique insight in to the exciting and dynamic world of advanced engineering and manufacturing.
Throughout the remainder of October Jaguar Land Rover's Educational Business Partnership Centres, located at each of the company's engineering and advanced manufacturing plants, will provide more than 120 year 10 and 11 students with a hands on programme of activities. These include CAD CAM and safety test challenges, a tour of the respective sites and essential guidance on interviews and CV writing as they prepare to make critical decisions about their futures.
'See Inside Manufacturing' is a collaborative initiative between the UK's leading advanced manufacturers and government to promote manufacturing excellence, challenge perceptions of the industry and dispel the myth that Britain no longer 'makes anything'.
Commenting on the series of events Business Secretary Vince Cable said: "For too many young people the word manufacturing is a turn off. A worrying poll out last week found that only one out of ten children aged 11 to 14 thought that engineering was an important job and even ranked being a politician as a better choice of career!
"We are determined to shake up old fashioned views of manufacturing. Through the Government's See Inside Manufacturing campaign and Jaguar Land Rover's national activities, we will give young people the chance to see the exciting face of modern manufacturing which is highly skilled, high tech and highly paid."
Pushing the STEM (science, technology, engineering and math's) agenda has long been a firm priority for Jaguar Land Rover as demonstrated by it being the first car manufacturer in the UK to achieve the highly regarded Community Mark. Awarded by Business in the Community, the Community Mark is widely recognised as the national standard of excellence for community investment and was given in recognition of Jaguar Land Rover's considerable investment in community programmes, including its Education Business Partnership Centres, employee volunteering programmes, national educational initiatives and a wide range of community partnerships.
Commenting on the company's involvement in 'See Inside Manufacturing', Mike Wright, Jaguar Land Rover's Executive Director said: "This initiative is a clear indication of the value advanced manufacturing has to the UK economy and as theUK's largest investor in automotive research and development Jaguar Land Rover has a critical role to play in pushing the skills agenda. Only through engagement with young people, be it at school or university, can we develop a truly capable and skilled work force able to compete on a global stage."
He continued: "That is why Jaguar Land Rover has for many years operated a structured suite of activities at its five Partnership Centres and a package of comprehensive educational programmes ‑ including the 'Land Rover 4x4 in Schools Challenge' and the recently launched' Jaguar Primary Schools Challenge'. These initiatives reached almost 13,000 school children in the UK last year and we will continue to invest heavily to ensure we provide more young people with inspirational experiences that showcase the immense benefits of a career in this most challenging and exciting of industry's."
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Jaguar Land Rover Education Business Partnership Centres:
The Education Business Partnership Centres, located at Jaguar and Land Rover's engineering and manufacturing facilities, provide opportunities for school groups to bring their curriculum to life. Children from all phases of education (aged 4 ‑19) can use the Centres modular learning format to work on practical problems that simultaneously provide an insight into the world of work, in particular the manufacturing industry.
During their time at the Centre, students can interact with Jaguar Land Rover personnel. As well as benefiting from their expertise, this reinforces the idea that people from all communities can aspire to work in this type of industry and across a variety of disciplines.
The Centres are diverse and provide inclusive support to performing and non‑performing schools. Our strategy addresses the shortage of females and ethnic minorities considering engineering and manufacturing related careers.
Jaguar Land Rover Educational Programmes:
- The Jaguar Primary Schools Challenge
The Jaguar Primary Schools Challenge is aimed at children aged between 5 and 11 and involves designing and manufacturing the fastest car possible in ether the 2D or 3D challenge.
Younger participants in the 2D challenge will have to form a team of four to design a race car out of card complete with wheels, body and even a mini driver. The design will then be printed and assembled ready to race.
Older pupils in the 3D Challenge will similarly have to design and manufacture a race car but will also have to test and race the fastest car possible driven by compact compressed air. Teams of three and six pupils will be required to use SolidWorks CAD software to design their car before making a 3D model out of balsa wood with each team member taking responsibility for a specific element of the project.
- Jaguar GT in Schools Design Challenge
Jaguar's GT in Schools Design Challenge is an annual competition for 12‑18 year‑olds to use CADCAM software and a development process closely aligned to the car industry to design, construct and race a compressed air‑powered, model sports car.
Over the course of a school year, students carry out research, design and manufacture their vehicle, and perform tests before they go head‑to‑head with teams from other schools at the competition stage.
The challenge raises awareness of engineering, and aims to encourage students to pursue careers in the automotive industry. They also develop communication, team‑work, project management and ICT skills.
The GT Challenge is run in partnership with several leading engineering and education organisations, including the Institute of Engineering, STEMNET and the Assessment and Qualifications Alliance.
For more information please go to: www.f1inschools.co.uk/page‑‑gt‑in‑schools.html
- Land Rover 4x4 in Schools Technology Challenge
Similar to the GT Design Challenge, Land Rover's 4x4 Challenge is an annual competition for 14‑18 year‑olds to design and build a radio‑controlled, four‑wheel drive model vehicle that displays Land Rover's all‑terrain characteristics. The rigours and process of the competition are similar to those of the GT competition. Land Rover provides guidance and support throughout the process, including visits to participants' schools and youth groups.
The 4x4 Challenge is run in partnership with JCB, The IET and several leading engineering and education organisations, including the Assessment and Qualifications Alliance, Cranfield University, and Denford.
For more information please go to: www.4x4inschools.co.uk/
- Maths in Motion
The Maths in Motion Challenge was established in 2000 and this year attracted entries from 200,000 pupils from 1,000 schools making it the largest maths challenge of its kind in theUK.
The programme, presents school children aged 9‑16 with the task of setting up a virtual racing car to compete on a track against other schools. The teams have to use all their mathematical expertise to accurately measure the length of the track, the angles of the bends and consider other factors such as fuel load, tyres and speeds.
This information is then submitted to computer simulation software and all the challengers eventually race against each other. Each racing car is shown as a name on the screen and the race is accompanied by visual commentary.
For more information please go to; www.mathschallenge.co.uk/
Jaguar Land Rover Corporate PR Contacts:
Nicola Rzeznik, Corporate Communications Officer
T: 01926 648063 / M: 07736 912266 Email: nrzeznik@jaguarlandrover.com
Laura Brannan, Corporate Communications Officer
T: 01926 646050 / M: 07557 540611 Email: lbrannan@jaguarlandrover.com
Jonathan Griffiths, Corporate and International Affairs, Jaguar Land Rover Manager
T: 01926 649893 / M: 07801 126 893 Email: jgriff76@jaguarlandrover.com