News: AESSEAL helps youngsters Get Up to Speed with the rise of the robots

Rotherham manufacturing firm, AESSEAL furthered its commitment to develop the engineers and industry leaders of the future as Gold Sponsor of Get Up to Speed with STEM (GUTS) for the ninth consecutive year.

More than 7,000 students from across the region attended the two-day event last month – the largest of its type in the region – at Magna Science Adventure Centre in Rotherham.

Organised by The Work-wise Foundation, Get Up to Speed provides a platform for young people to connect with businesses, explore science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers, engage with industry professionals, and interact with some of the UK's most exciting innovations.

This year’s theme was Stronger Together: The Power of Collaboration – People, Robots & Productivity.

The event had its first day designed for secondary school aged people and above, with primary school pupils aged eight and over and children with special education needs and disabilities (SEND) touring the exhibition and attractions on the second day.

AESSEAL is one of the world's leading specialists in the design and manufacture of mechanical seals, bearing protectors, seal support systems and gland packing. With its global headquarters at Templeborough, the award-winning company manufactures mechanical seals for a wide range of industries, including oil and gas, food, water, mining and pharmaceuticals.

AESSEAL head of UK learning and development Darren Jones said: "We have around 26 different apprenticeships available at any one time. This is about giving young people the opportunity to look at these roles and see if they are a good fit. Employment should be for everybody and we want to tap into the local talent pool and give everybody the chance to have a successful career."

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As well as continuing to invest in talent, AESSEAL has invested in a multimillion pound Factory for the Future - a state-of-the-art, 60,000 sq ft extension that has almost doubled the site capacity. The expansion was coupled with new robots to help the company to increase productivity by automating mundane processes and free up people for highly skilled work.

Much of the talk at Get Up to Speed was about robots and AI.

AESSEAL IT machine learning developer Elliot Fisher told attendees how AI can save time and increase production through working with humans. He said: "At AESSEAL when we talk about AI we talk about it as if it is just another member of the team. We want to give it a clear role with clear borders and transparency with human oversight. It will only do the job we have told it to do and know when to hand control back. AI will do the heavy lifting, and I think that’s what ‘stronger together’ means. It isn’t going to be humans or AI. It is going to be humans and AI.

AESSEAL CAM mechatronics engineer Lewis Hardy said that there was a huge skills crisis in engineering, but AESSEAL had invested £4.3m in robotic cells, and added: “As people we are very good at making decisions and carrying out manual tasks, and a robot is only as good at making decisions as the engineer who programmed it. We are at the very early stages of adapting automation into manufacturing.”

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News: Get up to Speed with STEM returns

South Yorkshire’s largest STEM careers showcase, "Get up to Speed with STEM", is set to return to Magna Science Adventure centre, Rotherham over two days next month and promises many exciting exhibits and interactive activities.

Taking place on Wednesday 18 and Thursday 19 March, the first day is designed for secondary school students (11-25 years) and the second day for primary school (8-11 years) and SEND young people. With already over 55 exhibitors signed up to attend and around 12 attractions, the aim is to give young people in South Yorkshire and the surrounding areas the very best, most interactive experience of working in STEM (Science Technology Engineering Maths) careers.

The exhibitors, many of which are local companies in manufacturing, engineering, technology or the construction industry, benefit by building relationships with young people, raising awareness of the Apprenticeships or Graduate programmes in their industry and enthusing young people with potential future careers within the business. Young people will have the opportunity to explore and get hands-on with many of the region’s STEM innovations and discuss with the businesses the range of exciting careers and opportunities in that area.

Peter Edwards, CEO of the Work-wise Foundation, who has taken over the reins from John Barber, who retired earlier this year, said: “I’m incredibly excited to be involved with Get up to Speed and I’m looking to build on the success that John Barber and the team have enjoyed over the past 15 years. This year we have had great demand from schools in the region and we’re really excited to be welcoming many new exhibitors on board this year. As usual, Get up to Speed will offer visitors a variety of hands-on STEM activities, with a wide range of different businesses and organisations running demonstrations and interactive challenges to inspire young people.”

Exciting and interactive exhibits include AMRC Training Centre showcasing an innovative Virtual Reality welder and attendees can try out 3D pens; United Cast Bar showcasing Casting in a box. Kids Invent Stuff will be giving visitor a chance to break a Guinness World Record and to build a LEGO tower. Accu will be bringing its robotic football game, with the chance to go head-to-head with an AccuBot.

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There will also be opportunities to explore the world of AI, fly drones, learning through movement with Onboard Skate Park and take part in a personal training session with a world champion MMA fighter, to name but a few!

One of the challenges celebrated at the event will be the LAND AMETEK Get up to Speed with STEM challenge, sponsored by the company and The Worshipful Company of Ironmongers. Local schools have been tasked with designing an interactive, imaginary 20-minute STEM activity for KS3 pupils, which they will present to a panel of judges from the South Yorkshire business community. The winning team will be showcasing their ideas on the main stage at Get up to Speed.

Get up to Speed offers a unique opportunity for businesses to connect directly with future talent, showcasing their innovations while helping to bridge the skills gap in STEM. Over the 15 years, this interactive showcase has introduced STEM career opportunities to more than 55,000 young people, parents and teachers. The Magna visitor attraction will also be open on 18th March including access to the Big Melt, bringing the region’s steel heritage to life.

Local business people will also be invited to attend a Business Breakfast, which will take place in the main hall at Magna Science Adventure Centre this year on day two of the event.

This year’s gold sponsors of Get up to Speed include AESSEAL, Capabilities Beyond Engineering, Sheffield Forgemasters, Stream7 and The Worshipful Company of Ironmongers, alongside silver sponsors including Forged Solutions Group, Dragonfly PR, The UK Atomic Energy Authority and Hydra Creative. Bronze sponsors include AMG Chrome, LAND AMETEK, Vulcan to the Sky Trust, Withers & Rogers LLP and The UoS, as well as the AMRC Training Centre, Howmet Aerospace and Made in Sheffield.

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News: Get up to Speed STEM event returns with 15th anniversary celebration

The highly anticipated Get up to Speed (GUTS) with STEM event returns this week with an exciting event celebration to mark 15 years of inspiring young minds.

As South Yorkshire’s largest STEM careers showcase, the two-day event will welcome up to 6,000 young people and educators to Magna Science Adventure Centre in Rotherham, offering hands-on experiences with around 100 exhibitors ready to provide a real-life insight into the world of STEM careers.

A highlight of this year’s event is the Big 15 Celebration evening on Thursday March 20 bringing together past supporters, industry leaders and educators. Hosted by Alex Gardner, the evening will feature live entertainment, including a magician and a live band performance by Uncle Stan, along with a two-course hot buffet and drinks on arrival. Guests can put their skills to the test on a racing simulator against Rowan Campbell’s lap time, enjoy giant Jenga, race on the giant track and more.

This year, for the first time, Get up to Speed will run over two days, with the first day dedicated to secondary school students (11-25 years) and the second day open to primary school students (aged 8-11 years) and SEND young people.

The first day kicks off on Wednesday March 19, with a Business Breakfast, the event being opened by Master Cutler Philip Rodrigo, followed by a line up of keynote speakers including Richard Caborn, who has been the President of The Work-wise Foundation since the start reflecting on the last 15 years, Rowan Campbell-Pilling, Sheffield’s upcoming F4 driver who will give a young person’s perspective on the world of motor racing today and Professor Ben Morgan, Interim CEO of ARMC, who will offer a glimpse into the next 15 years of STEM skills and development.

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After the Business Breakfast, attendees will be able to get a preview of the main GUTS exhibition and participate in hands-on activities with everything from United Cast Bar, casting metal to The UK Atomic Energy Authority, learning about Nuclear Fusion and much more before the doors open to schools and young people.

John Barber, CEO of The Work-wise Foundation which organises the event said: “We’re really excited about our 15th Get up to Speed event as we have so much planned! Not only are there more pupils involved and exhibitors than ever but we have some phenomenal speakers at our business breakfast and we expect to go out with a bang with our special anniversary celebration evening. I would like to take this opportunity to thank every visitor, business, supporter and colleague who has helped make Get up to Speed what it is today!”

Get up to Speed sponsors include AESSEAL, CBE+, Sheffield Forgemasters, Stream7 and The Worshipful Company of Ironmongers as gold sponsors, alongside silver sponsors including Dragonfly PR, Hydra Creative, Forged Solutions Group, The IET, The UK Atomic Energy Authority, Rowan Campbell Pilling F4 Driver and bronze sponsors, AMG Chrome, Ametek Land, Esh Construction, Vulcan to the Sky Trust, The Royal Navy, Element Materials Technology, Withers & Rogers LLP, Made in Sheffield and The UoS AMRC Training Centre.

The event provides businesses with a unique platform to connect directly with future talent, showcase their innovations and contribute to closing the STEM skills gap. Over the past 14 years, this interactive event has introduced more than 45,000 young people, parents and educators to exciting STEM career opportunities.

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News: Engineers of tomorrow gather for massive skills event in Rotherham

5,500 pupils and educators from across the South Yorkshire region were given a unique insight into careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Manufacturing) at the recent ‘Get up to Speed with STEM’ event, which was held at the Magna Science Adventure Centre in Rotherham last month.

The annual event, the largest of its kind in the region and now in its 14th year, brought together dozens of businesses, colleges and organisations to showcase the wide variety of different career options that are available to young people in South Yorkshire, as well as letting them get involved in problem solving challenges and interactive activities. Young people were also given the chance to see some of the UK’s most exciting STEM innovations and meet the people who design, build and operate them.

John Barber, CEO of The Work-wise Foundation (organisers of the event), said: “Get up to Speed has been a phenomenal success this year. Every year the event gives young people the chance to get a real-life experience of the world of work from local businesses, whilst being able to speak to apprentices, employees and business owners about the career pathways they could take to lead to a wide variety of roles.

“Every year we receive some great feedback from teachers about how Get up to Speed really does inspire pupils with ideas that shape their future career. We understand that it can be difficult for young people to find out about businesses and careers they may be interested in, so by bringing them all together at Get up to Speed, our aim is to overcome any obstacles and break down barriers to accessing career opportunities.”

Get up to Speed with STEM also gives companies taking part the opportunity to showcase their expertise, highlight career options and current vacancies and meet with other businesses, whilst helping to address the skills gaps across the sectors.

Pupils and teachers had the chance to explore the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) through an immersive 360-degree virtual tour, enabling them to understand how the largest general purpose particle detector experiment in the world works. This unique attraction came about as a result of the National Videogame Museum teaming up with the University of Sheffield and CERN in Switzerland.

Visitors also had the opportunity to try out a wide range of diverse activities from metal casting with United Cast Bar, Water Quality testing with the Canal and River Trust, wall building with Esh Construction to using a heat press for clothing with SBD Apparel and E sports with The British Army.

Three award celebrations took place during the day, including Vulcan to the Sky, AMETEK Land and the High Sheriff’s Building a Better Future Together Challenge. These mini events celebrated the success of pupils that took part in competitions with businesses in the run-up to Get up to Speed.

In addition, Stream 7, a video production company based in Sheffield, created GUTS TV, which ran throughout the day, giving pupils the unique opportunity to get involved with the video production and editing process.

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Get up to Speed started with a Business Breakfast, themed this year around “Health and Wellbeing for Skills and Productivity”, which was opened by the Master Cutler, Charles Turner DL, with keynote speaker Jason Brannan, Deputy Director of the Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre in Sheffield. Richard Caborn, former Minister for Sport and Civil Society, provided closing remarks.

Master Cutler Charles Turner DL said:”The manufacturing sector in South Yorkshire requires raw materials and the main one is skills. Our region needs 10,000 new recruits into industry in the next 10 years and today’s event is an important part of this journey. We make everything in South Yorkshire from scalpels to fighter jet components, modular reactors to knives that cuts food for the supermarkets and we need young people coming through to fill these roles, across all areas of manufacturing.”

This year’s event sponsors include: Gold Sponsors; AESSEAL, CBE+, Sheffield Forgemasters, Worshipful Company of Ironmongers and Stream 7. Silver Sponsors; Arm, Forged Solutions, The Institution of Engineering and Technology, Hydra Creative, Dragonfly PR and Bronze Sponsors; AMETEK Land, Highlander Computing Solutions, AMG Chrome, CPH2, Made in Sheffield and the Canal and River Trust.

Leading Rotherham manufacturer, AESSEAL sponsored the event for the seventh consecutive year.

A spokespoerson for AESSEAL said: "By sponsoring GUTS, AESSEAL not only demonstrates its commitment to corporate social responsibility but also actively contributes to building a pipeline of talented individuals who will drive technological advancements and shape the future of innovation. The event promotes diversity and inclusion, driving positive changes.

"AESSEAL's goal is to inspire young individuals to grasp the significance of STEM disciplines, ultimately nurturing the engineers of tomorrow."

Since 2010, Get up to Speed, which is championed by employers and organised by The Work-wise Foundation alongside key partners in the private sector, has showcased STEM career opportunities to over 39,000 young people and their families from across the South Yorkshire region and beyond. There were over 70 businesses exhibiting at Get up to Speed, many of them from the South Yorkshire region.

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News: Rotherham gearing up for GUTS again

Almost 6,000 pupils and educators from the Yorkshire region are set to take part in this year’s Get up to Speed with STEM event, to be held at Magna Science Adventure Centre in Rotherham later this month.

On March 20, this highly interactive event will showcase the breadth and diversity of careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Manufacturing), bringing employers together to promote and celebrate the very best of what the region has to offer young people.

John Barber, CEO of The Work-wise Foundation (organisers of the event) said: “This is our 14th annual Get up to Speed event and we have more science, technology, engineering, manufacturing and construction experiences than ever to give young people a real-life insight into different roles. There are dozens of interactive activities and challenges planned for the day, with many employers running competitions, demonstrations and practical experiences to really give pupils first-hand experience of their type of work.

“Every year we receive some fantastic feedback from schools about how Get up to Speed opens young people’s eyes to the many and varied career opportunities that they could consider. It also gives them new connections, makes them more familiar with businesses in their area and stimulates conversations and new ideas back at school. It’s a valuable part of every young person’s education here in South Yorkshire.”

The event starts with a Business Breakfast, themed this year around “Health and Wellbeing for Skills and Productivity”, which will be opened by the Master Cutler, Charles Turner DL, with keynote speaker Jason Brannan, Deputy Director of the Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre in Sheffield. Richard Caborn, former Minister for Sport and Civil Society, will provide closing remarks.

Following the Business Breakfast, young people will be given the chance to see some of the UK’s most exciting STEM innovations and meet the people who design, build and operate them.

Pupils and teachers will also be able to explore the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) through an immersive 360-degree virtual tour, enabling them to understand how the largest general purpose particle detector experiment in the world works. This unique attraction at Get up to Speed is a result of the National Videogame Museum teaming up with the University of Sheffield and CERN in Switzerland.

Also new for 2024, Get up to Speed will feature a McLaren supercar: a volcano yellow 720S. Other vehicles on show will be from South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue, the National Emergency Services Museum, Yorkshire & Humberside Regional Cyber Crime Unit, plus lots more.

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In addition, Stream 7, a video production company based in Sheffield, will be creating GUTS TV, which will run throughout the day, giving pupils the unique opportunity to get involved with the video production and editing process.

Three major competitions will be celebrated on the day including Vulcan to the Sky, AMETEK Land and the High Sheriff’s Building a Better Future Together Challenge which pupils have been busy participating in in the build up to GUTS.

Pupils can also speak to a wide variety of business people, inventors, apprentices, graduates and education providers about future career opportunities. The Magna visitor attraction will also be open.

Get up to Speed with STEM also gives companies taking part the opportunity to showcase their expertise, highlight career opportunities and current vacancies and meet with other businesses, whilst helping to address the skills gaps across the sectors.

John Barber continues: “This year pupils will be able to immerse themselves in virtual reality, trial the latest digital technologies, as well as learning more about all aspects of the sector from traditional industries to advanced manufacturing and green technologies. There really is something for everyone.”

This year’s event sponsors include: Gold Sponsors; AESSEAL, CBE+, Sheffield Forgemasters, Worshipful Company of Ironmongers and Stream 7. Silver Sponsors; Arm, Forged Solutions, The Institution of Engineering and Technology, Hydra Creative, Dragonfly PR and Bronze Sponsors; AMETEK Land, Highlander Computing Solutions, AMG Chrome, CPH2 and the Canal and River Trust.

Since 2010, Get up to Speed, which is championed by employers and organised by The Work-wise Foundation alongside key partners in the private and public sectors, has showcased STEM career opportunities to over 39,000 young people and their families from across the South Yorkshire region and beyond.

Get up to Speed is designed for young people, their families and teachers to see some of the UK's best innovations first-hand, hear from and talk to those involved in their success and learn about the future of the sector and its evolution through technology.

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News: AESSEAL sponsors Get Up To Speed with STEM for sixth year

AESSEAL attended the recent Get Up To Speed with STEM event as Gold headline sponsors for the sixth year running.

Led by The Work-wise Foundation, Get Up To Speed aims to showcase the world of work to young people and offer the opportunity for businesses to engage with the next generation and with each other. On Wednesday 29th March, students from across South Yorkshire gathered at the event at the Magna Science Adventure Centre, Rotherham.

At the Business Breakfast, attended by special guest Dame Julie Kenny DBE, DL, businesses joined together to discuss their journeys and strategies in meeting the dual challenges of growth and becoming a sustainable business, and how skills are at the heart of this.

Keynote speakers included Richard Sulley - Net Zero Project Director, and Tom Rumboll from SYNETIQ Ltd. A panel discussion included contributions from Ava Jones (Head of Marketing, AESSEAL), Marie Cooper (CEO, CBE+), Ian Nicholls (Group Technical Director, Sheffield Forgemasters), Richard Sulley, and Tom Rumboll.

AESSEAL also held a mechanical seal workshop, where students were able to build their own mechanical seals and learn about the components within a seal.

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Past and present apprentices, including Junior Content Creator Jessica Copeland, spoke at the event to share their journey through the business.

Jessica said: "I thoroughly enjoyed my experience at this year’s Get Up To Speed with STEM event, I had the opportunity to speak about my apprenticeship experience with AESSEAL® and talk to businesses developing post GCSE options. I would love to be involved again with GUTS in the future."

AESSEAL is the largest part of the AES Engineering Ltd group, which operates in over 100 countries. The British-owned group manufactures its core products in Rotherham, which are used by major industry globally to prevent the leakage of liquids and gases into the environment, thereby preventing environmental damage as well as avoiding a health and safety risk.

The Department of Education ranked AESSEAL among the UK’s top 100 best apprentice employers for 2022 for their vital work boosting career opportunities for more people.

The company is hosting a factory tour for potential apprentices at its global headquarters in Rotherham on May 3 at 4pm.

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News: 5,000 at Rotherham STEM event

This year’s Get up to Speed with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Manufacturing) ‘Skills for Sustainability’ event for young people, organised by the Work-wise Foundation, was a huge success, hosting over 5,000 visitors at Magna Science Adventure Centre in Rotherham recently.

For the first time, visitors had access to the entire Magna Science Adventure Centre attraction, as well as the chance to meet many of the region’s leading employers and get hands learning about their industry, jobs and careers. They also had chance to explore some of our industrial history and heritage with the chance to see a Spitfire, Vulcan XH558 Engine and classic police vehicles. They even got chance to sit in a McLaren and interact with virtual reality, gaming activities and solve crimes! The event was attended by over 100 local business exhibitors who were looking to attract and inspire the workforce of the future.

This year’s theme was Skills for Sustainability, which saw exhibitors showcasing some of their innovations towards achieving net zero, as well as demonstrating some of the opportunities in the green energy sector which will provide employment for people in the future. Many of the local businesses who exhibited at the event used the opportunity to reveal innovative robotics and automation solutions that are likely to drive competitiveness in manufacturing and engineering in the future.

As well as seeing some of the most exiting STEM innovations, pupils had the opportunity to speak to a wide variety of businesses, inventors, graduates, apprentices and education providers about future career opportunities.

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Dame Julie Kenny DBE, DL, Master Cutler, said: “Almost 5,000 young people had the opportunity to meet many South Yorkshire companies in a wide variety of industries at the event.

“Young people who visited Get up to Speed will come away feeling they can do whatever they want to do and be whatever they want to be! It is great to see companies exhibiting their products and skills to inspire young people!”

Before the event, organisers The Work-Wise Foundation, held a Business Breakfast, for businesses to come together to discuss what they can do to support and inspire STEM careers in the region, and why it’s so important for economic and sustainable growth.

Keynote speakers included Dame Julie Kenny DBE, DL, Master Cutler, Richard Sulley – Net Zero Project Director from South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority and Tom Rumboll – UK Managing Director of IAA Inc and CEO, SYNETIQ Ltd, plus Richard Caborn, President of The Work-wise Foundation and Chair of Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park. Along with headline sponsors AESSEAL, CBE+ and Sheffield Forgemasters - they spoke about and debated the challenges for businesses to become more sustainable, their journeys balancing growth and sustainability, and how skills are the answer to all of this.

Richard Sulley, Net Zero Project Director, South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA), said: “We have world-class facilities and world-class universities in the region, so we need to make the best use of what is available to ensure that we can close the skills gap.

“Young people want to work for exciting companies where they feel like they are making a difference. Having sustainability at the forefront of business culture and priorities is becoming increasingly important. This event is a great way to showcase just what opportunities exist for young people in South Yorkshire.”

Tom Rumboll, UK Managing Director, IAA, Inc & CEO, SYNETIQ Ltd, said: “Businesses, big and small, are committing to net zero, but many don’t yet know how to get there.

“Showing your customers that you are on your journey, and taking steps towards it will attract more clients and could put your business ahead of your competitors.”

John Barber, CEO of The Work-Wise Foundation, said: “The theme for this year’s event was to raise awareness of the need for greater sustainability skills in the region.

“South Yorkshire has set out a plan to be Net Zero by 2040, so it’s essential that we have the right skills in place to achieve those targets. Businesses are still experiencing skills shortages and the answer to this problem is young people! Given the right direction and access to skills, they can fulfil that need!”

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Comments from teachers about Get up to Speed included: “It was an amazing experience for our Year 10 engineers. It seems to be getting bigger every year! Many of our students have come away focused on being a part of the sector post 16” and, “Very impressive to get so many major companies to attend. Demonstrates their support of getting messages over to children about job opportunities for when they leave full time education. Great variety from many sectors. We always come away with more connections and ideas.”

For eleven years, Get up to Speed, which is championed by employers and organised by The Work-wise Foundation alongside key partners in the private and public sectors, has showcased STEM career opportunities to over 30,000 young people and their families from across the South Yorkshire region and beyond.

Get up to Speed is designed for young people, their families and teachers to see some of the UK's best innovations first-hand, hear from and talk to those involved in their success and learn about the future of the sector and its evolution through technology.

GUTS website

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News: Skills for Sustainability business event at Get up to Speed

South Yorkshire businesses are being offered a great opportunity to learn more about skills for sustainability at this year’s Get up to Speed with STEM annual Business Breakfast and Networking event, which is being held in Rotherham this week.

This free event on Wednesday March 29, organised by The Work-wise Foundation, will take place at Magna Science Adventure Centre in Rotherham at the start of Yorkshire’s largest annual employer-inspired science, technology, engineering, manufacturing (STEM) and construction experience for young people.

This year’s Business Breakfast event will give attendees the chance to hear from speakers and a panel who will share their own strategies for balancing the challenges of growth and becoming a sustainable business, with skills at the heart of this.

Keynote speakers include Dame Julie Kenny DBE, DL, Master Cutler, Richard Sulley – Net Zero Project Director from South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority and Tom Rumboll – UK Managing Director of IAA Inc and CEO, SYNETIQ Ltd, plus Richard Caborn, President of The Work-wise Foundation and Chair of Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park.

The panel of speakers will include Ava Jones – Head of Marketing at AESSEAL, Marie Cooper – CEO of CBE+ and Ian Nicholls – Group Technical Director at Sheffield Forgemasters.

John Barber, CEO of The Work-wise Foundation, said: “So many businesses, large and small, are working towards net zero and are looking towards their future skills requirements for sustainability, which is why we made it a theme this year. The highlight of the Business Breakfast will be a really enlightening discussion on how South Yorkshire businesses can match their skills and sustainability needs through education and training for the next generation.”

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Sponsors of this year’s event include: Gold Sponsors; AESSEAL, CBE+, Sheffield Forgemasters, and the Worshipful Company of Ironmongers. Silver Sponsors; Arm Ltd, UK Atomic Energy Authority, Institution of Engineering and Technology, Hydra Creative, Dragonfly PR and Bronze Sponsors; AMETEK Land, Forged Solutions Group Ltd, Highlander Computing Solutions, ITM Power, Wessex Archaeology, Made in Sheffield, and Stream 7.

Following the Business Breakfast, the Get up to Speed with STEM event will welcome almost 5,000 young people, teachers and parents to find out more about a wide variety of science, technical, engineering and maths-related careers. Get up to Speed is designed to enable young people to see some of the UK's best innovations first-hand, hear from and talk to those involved in their success and learn about the future of the sector and its evolution through technology.

John Barber continues: “This year there will be lots of opportunity to explore, experience and get hands on for visitors including access to the Magna main attraction. Everything from virtual reality to medical and digital technologies, advanced manufacturing and green technologies to traditional manufacturing. We even have a Spitfire alongside our Vulcan education programme in the aviation zone!”

For 12 years, Get up to Speed, which is championed by employers and organised by The Work-wise Foundation alongside key partners in the private and public sectors, has showcased STEM career opportunities to over 30,000 young people and their families from across the South Yorkshire region and beyond.

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News: Rotherham ready to host biggest Get up to Speed event to date

Get up to Speed with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Manufacturing), Yorkshire’s largest annual employer-inspired STEM and construction showcase for young people, is set to be the biggest to date this year, with over 4,300 visitors already booked to attend.

Taking place at Magna Science Adventure Centre in Rotherham on Thursday March 29, the event gives young people the chance to see some of the UK’s most exciting STEM innovations and meet the people who design, build and operate them. Pupils can also speak to a wide variety of businesses, inventors, apprentices and education providers about future career opportunities. For the first time, the main Magna visitor attraction will also be open to visitors to explore.

Get up to Speed with STEM also gives companies taking part the opportunity to showcase their expertise, highlight career opportunities and current vacancies and meet with other businesses, whilst helping to address the skills gaps across the sectors.

John Barber, CEO of The Work-wise Foundation (organisers of the event) said: “This year’s event will be our 11th and largest live event to date. We have a huge variety of businesses exhibiting who will be demonstrating the wide range of jobs and careers from more traditional sectors to new advanced technologies and innovations. This event truly showcases the depth and range of exciting opportunities open to our young people.

“Exhibition space is already filling up, so we are encouraging any businesses that would like to be involved to get in touch as soon as possible, to help inspire even more young people and educate them on opportunities in STEM industries.”

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So far, sponsors of this year’s event include: Gold Sponsors; AESSEAL, CBE+, Sheffield Forgemasters, and Worshipful Company of Ironmongers. Silver Sponsors; Arm Ltd, UK Atomic Energy Authority, Institution of Engineering and Technology, Hydra Creative, Dragonfly PR and Bronze Sponsors; AMETEK Land, Forged Solutions Group Ltd, Highlander Computing Solutions, ITM Power, Wessex Archaeology, Made in Sheffield, and Stream 7.

John Barber continued: “This year there will be lots of opportunity to explore, experience and get hands on for visitors including access to the Magna main attraction. Everything from virtual reality to medical and digital technologies, advanced manufacturing and green technologies to traditional manufacturing. We even have a Spitfire alongside our Vulcan education programme in the aviation zone!”

The event will be opened by The Master Cutler, Dame Julie Kenny DBE and a business breakfast will start on the day, before the doors open to schools and young people at 9:30 am.

For eleven years, Get up to Speed, which is championed by employers and organised by The Work-wise Foundation alongside key partners in the private and public sectors, has showcased STEM career opportunities to over 30,000 young people and their families from across the South Yorkshire region and beyond.

Get up to Speed is designed for young people, their families and teachers to see some of the UK’s best innovations first-hand, hear from and talk to those involved in their success and learn about the future of the sector and its evolution through technology.

Get up to Speed website

Images: Workwise

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News: Business Breakfast back at Get up to Speed event

Get up to Speed with STEM, Yorkshire’s largest annual employer-inspired science, technology, engineering, manufacturing (STEM) and construction experience for young people, has announced the return of its annual Business Breakfast networking event.

Taking place from 7:45am at Magna Science Adventure Centre in Rotherham on Wednesday 23rd March, the Business Breakfast is one of the largest STEM networking events in the region and takes place prior to the main Get up to Speed showcase.

This year’s theme for the event will focus on the Digital Skills for Business Leaders and include representatives from some of the region’s top digital companies including keynote speaker, David Richards MBE, the Chairman, President, CEO and co-founder of WANdisco, the Sheffield based distributed computing specialists.

John Barber, CEO of event organisers, The Work-wise Foundation, comments: “After having to cancel previous events due to restrictions on gatherings during the pandemic, we are extremely pleased to announce that our annual Business Breakfast will return this year. During the event, we’ll be highlighting the need for business leaders to understand and embrace digital technologies, recognise the benefits this can bring to their business and understand why equipping and recruiting young people with these skills is critical. There will also be the opportunity to hear first-hand case studies from local companies that have embraced the challenge, and also learn what support is out there to help.”

The Get up to Speed Business Breakfast is free to attend for business owners, directors and senior managers working in the region’s STEM sector. Tickets are allocated on a first come first serve basis.

Get up to Speed with STEM will take place following the Business Breakfast from 9:30am to 5pm. An hour-long Special Education Needs and Disability (SEND) friendly preview will be held at 8:30am. The free event is designed for young people, their families and teachers to see some of the UK's best innovations first hand, hear from and talk to those involved in their success and learn about the future of the sector and its evolution through technology.

Get up to Speed with STEM also gives companies taking part the opportunity to showcase their business, highlight career opportunities and current vacancies and meet with other businesses, whilst helping to address the skills gap in STEM-related industries.

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John Barber, CEO of The Work-wise Foundation (organiser of the event) said: “We’ve had a fantastic level of support from businesses already this year and, we’re almost sold out of exhibition space! We’re encouraging any companies to get in touch as soon as possible to book a stand, or to become a sponsor, and take part in what is one of the north’s leading interactive science and technology events for young people.”

So far, sponsors of this year’s event include AESSEAL, CBE+, The Worshipful Company of Ironmongers, AMETEK Land, CityFibre, Highlander UK, UK Atomic Energy Authority, ARM, ITM Power, The IET, Forged Solutions, Balfour Beatty, Wessex Archaeology, Withers & Rogers, Hydra Creative, Dragonfly PR and Made in Sheffield.

Currently, there are 80 attractions and exhibitors planned for this year’s event including McLaren Automotive, a British Army Multi Launch Rocket System, a Vulcan XH558 Engine, Fuel Tank & Wing Tips, Virtual Welding and other hands on virtual experiences, The National Emergency Services Museum with a range of historic vehicles and the Sheffield Engineering Leadership Academy Engineering through history display.

For the first time, the Get up to Speed live showcase will also be followed by an online event, Get up to Speed The Virtual Experience, where registered attendees can gain exclusive access to a digital platform. Here users can access virtual tours, demonstrations, career stories, inventions, company profiles and interviews, created by some of the UK’s leading STEM businesses.

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News: GUTS back for 2022

Get up to Speed with STEM, Yorkshire’s largest annual employer-inspired science, technology, engineering, manufacturing (STEM) and construction showcase for young people is back at Magna in Rotherham for 2022.

Known as GUTS, the event is a chance to see some of the UK’s most exciting STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) inventions, and meet the people who design, build and operate them.

Last year, GUTS was held virtually to still give young people the opportunity to learn about and engage with STEM related businesses even in a global pandemic.

2022's event takes place at Magna Science Adventure Centre on Wednesday March 23.

Get up to Speed with STEM also gives companies taking part the opportunity to showcase their business, highlight career opportunities and current vacancies and meet with other businesses, whilst helping to address the skills gap in STEM-related industries.

For the first time, the Get up to Speed live showcase will also be followed by an online event where registered attendees can gain exclusive access to a digital platform. Here users can access virtual tours, demonstrations, career stories, inventions, company profiles and interviews, created by some of the UK’s leading STEM businesses.

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John Barber, CEO of The Work-wise Foundation (organiser of the event) said: “Feedback from our online experience in 2021 was fantastic, so we wanted to ensure that this digital element wasn’t lost now the live event can go ahead again. Every year is a sell out and with the physical showcase and digital platform combined, we have no doubt this year will be our biggest yet."

The day will start with the Business Breakfast event focusing on Digital Skills For Business Leaders. With David Richards MBE, Chairman, President, CEO and co-founder WANdisco, as keynote speaker, the event will aim to highlight the need for business leaders to understand and embrace digital technologies, recognise the benefits this can bring to their business and understand why equipping and recruiting young people with these skills is critical. There will be the opportunity to hear first-hand from local companies that have embraced the challenge and also learn what support is out there to help.

For over ten years, Get up to Speed has showcased STEM-related career opportunities to over 30,000 young people and their families from across the South Yorkshire region and beyond.

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News: AESSEAL goes virtual to promote engineering to students during pandemic

Rotherham manufacturer, AESSEAL, has taken its award-winning student outreach work online to ensure it continues to help bridge the engineering skills gap in South Yorkshire during lockdown.

Faced with the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown, the Rotherham based mechanical seals manufacturer had to rethink how it engaged with students and enable them to experience working life in a modern engineering company.

Its response is to produce a virtual tour of its state-of-the-art centre and headquarters, where it designs and manufactures mechanical seals, dry gas seals and bearing protectors for industries around the world, using advanced digital technology and machinery.

In addition to the ten-minute virtual AESSEAL tour, Students interested in STEM subjects and careers can watch other web-based resources to give them an insider view of how mechanical seals are manufactured, including a ‘day-in-the-life’ of engineering professionals from a range of departments. The virtual tour will also feature in the first ever online Get Up to Speed (GUTS) with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) event - Get Up to Speed the Virtual Experience – from March 22nd to 26th, 2021.

AESSEAL is a partner of the interactive event, organised by The Work-Wise Foundation, and has donated an additional £14,000 to help Work-Wise create the online platform for GUTS, which in previous years was held at the Magna Science Adventure Centre in Rotherham. AESSEAL® Managing Director Chris Rea will deliver a keynote speech on Betterworld.Solutions and how business leaders can make a difference in helping to save the environment whilst making a return on the investment, at the virtual GUTS event on March 26th. The company also supported the Work-Wise Virtual Summer Academy last year, with AESSEAL® ‘ambassadors’ sharing first-hand experience of life as an engineering professional.

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AESSEAL has a long history of promoting engineering as a profession which young people can aspire to. In a typical year pre-lockdown it engaged with around 4,000 students, through visits from and to schools, hosting recruitment days with a strong focus on attracting women into engineering, and supporting a range of STEM events in the region.

Stephen Shaw, Engineering Director at AESSEAL, said: “AESSEAL reaches out to students from Year 6 primary schools upwards in our efforts to show young people that engineering is a profession to aspire to and progress in. This work is vital to help bridge the skills gap in the region so we were determined that lockdown wouldn’t bring it to a halt. We’ve been working closely with schools to provide them with online resources and we’ve been glad to continue our long-standing support for work-wise in the virtual environment.

“Young people live in a digital age so we’re confident that they’ll enjoy and benefit from our online guided tour and resources until we can throw open our ‘real-life’ doors to them again.”

The AESSEAL virtual tour can be found here.

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News: Get up to Speed with STEM: The Virtual Experience

Get Up to Speed with STEM, Yorkshire’s largest annual employer-inspired science, technology, engineering, manufacturing (STEM) and construction careers spectacular is encouraging schools and individuals to register for this year’s virtual event as soon as possible.

Taking place from March 22 - 26 2021, Get up to Speed with STEM: The Virtual Experience, organised by The Work-wise Foundation and delivered in partnership with Rotherham manufacturer, AESSEAL, will be held virtually to give young people the opportunity to learn about and engage with STEM related businesses. To take part in The Virtual Experience, attendees must register in advance before the deadline on Monday March 1.

The event is usually held at Magna Science Centre, Rotherham.

During the event attendees will have exclusive access to online content, including virtual tours, demonstrations, career stories, inventions, company profiles and interviews, created by over 50 of the UK’s leading STEM businesses. This includes headline sponsors Liberty Steel and CBE+, alongside the likes of McLaren, IMechE, IET, DePuy (part of the Johnson & Johnson Group), Engie, Tecomet, CityFibre and many more.

The majority of the event will be pre-recorded and viewable 24 hours a day throughout the week, with additional live sessions being streamed from The Work-wise Foundation at 9am, 11am and 2pm each day.

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John Barber, CEO of the work-wise Foundation and Chair of the Get up to Speed Steering Group, said: “Get up to Speed is a really popular event and tickets are usually snapped up in a few weeks. As the 2021 exhibition is virtual however, there is no limit on the number of attendees we can accept. We can provide access to teachers so they can work through the seminars with the whole class, to young people wishing to take part independently or even to individual pupils for use in homework or home learning.

“To ensure there is enough time to allocate individual log in details however, we are closing registration at 5pm on Monday 1st March and advise anyone wishing to take part to register as soon as possible. Given the uncertainty around the date that schools will be reopening, we would advise that teachers request a log-in for each pupil just in case remote learning is still taking place during the week of the event.”

All schools or young people taking part will be allocated a unique username and password which will provide access to all planned events, as well as digital activity workbooks for each attendee. The event already has over 5,000 young people registered to attend, with more signing up each day.

For businesses a Virtual Business Breakfast: Networking and Celebration Event is being held to hear how Business Leaders are learning from recent experiences, adapting and developing their businesses to meet future challenges. Speakers include Chris Rea CBE of Rotherham-based AESSEAL.

Over the past ten years, Get up to Speed has showcased STEM-related career opportunities to over 19,000 young people and their families from across the South Yorkshire region and beyond. The event also gives companies the opportunity to showcase their business whilst helping to address the skills gap in STEM-related industries.

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News: STEM event hosts preview for SEND pupils

Organisers at Get up to Speed with STEM, Yorkshire's largest annual employer-inspired science, technology, engineering, manufacturing (STEM) and construction careers spectacular, have announced plans to host an hour-long Special Education Needs and Disability (SEND) friendly preview at this year's event.

The event, organised by The work-wise Foundation, will take at Magna Science Centre, Rotherham, on Wednesday March 25.

Get up to Speed with STEM features over 100 exhibitions, plus a number of interactive zones including Rail, Construction and Uniformed Services. Other attractions include the National Videogames Museum, McLaren Automotive Supercars, Plant Genetics Growth Chamber, University of Sheffield Maker Bus, past and present fire engines, the Rail Human Library and Quantum Physics activities, amongst others.

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John Barber, CEO of The work-wise Foundation, said: "We are always exploring ways to enhance the inclusivity of Get Up To Speed and make the event as accessible and welcoming as possible for everyone. This year we are expecting over 4,000 people to attend throughout the course of the day, which may be overwhelming for some children and young people. The SEND friendly preview will provide any individuals that require a calmer environment the chance to experience and enjoy the exhibits without feeling overwhelmed by the larger crowds."

Over the past ten years, Get up to Speed, which is championed by employers and delivered through The work-wise Foundation alongside key partners in the private and public sectors, has showcased engineering career opportunities to over 19,000 young people and their families from across the South Yorkshire region and beyond.

This year's event, sponsored by Sheffield’s Liberty Speciality Steels, Chesterfield’s CBE+ and Rotherham's AESSEAL plc, will focus on robotics and renewables and include presentations from previous visitors that have gone on to secure a career in STEM-related industries as a result of past events.

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News: Schools quick to sign up for Get Up To Speed

Get up to Speed with STEM, Yorkshire's largest annual employer-inspired science, technology, engineering, manufacturing (STEM) and construction careers event, has sold out for schools for its tenth anniversary.

The event will take at Magna Science Centre, Rotherham, on Wednesday March 25 and over the past ten years, it has showcased engineering career opportunities to over 19,000 young people and their families from across the South Yorkshire region and beyond.

This year promises to be an outstanding showcase of businesses from the Yorkshire region and beyond, including over 100 exhibitions, plus a number of interactive zones which includes Rail, Construction and Uniformed Services.

Other attractions include the National Videogames Museum, McLaren Automotive Supercars, Plant Genetics Growth Chamber, University of Sheffield Maker Bus, past and present fire engines, the Rail Human Library and Quantum Physics activities, amongst others.

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John Barber, CEO of organisers. The work-wise Foundation, said: "Every year Get up to Speed gets bigger, but we are usually able to add on a few schools and exhibitors in the final weeks. With just under two months to go until the event, this is the quickest we have ever sold out. Our tenth anniversary really does look set to be our biggest year yet."

This year we have increased the number of attractions, added more interactive zones, where young people can engage directly with businesses on specific projects, and we've released more tickets. Already over 3,000 places have been snapped up by schools, so we have started a waiting list for any others wishing to come along. We do however still have afternoon slots available for any individuals and their families that wish to register."

Recommended reading: Yorkshire Development Studios Eying Up a Huge 2025

Get up to Speed is designed for young people, their families and teachers to see some of the UK's best innovations first-hand, hear from and talk to those involved in their success and learn about the future of the sector and its evolution through technology.

This year's event, sponsored by Sheffield’s Liberty Speciality Steels, Chesterfield's CBE+ and Rotherham's AESSEAL plc, will focus on robotics and renewables and include presentations from previous visitors that have gone on to secure a career in STEM-related industries as a result of past events.

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News: Get up to Speed secure headline sponsors for 2020 event

Get up to Speed with STEM, Yorkshire's largest annual employer-inspired science, technology, engineering, manufacturing (STEM) and construction careers event, promises to be an outstanding showcase of 10 years of achievement, as organisers work-wise announce their headline sponsors.

Liberty Speciality Steels, CBE+ and AESSEAL plc will sponsor the event, which in 2019 attracted 3,000 visitors from 69 schools and involved 90 businesses. The event will take at Magna Science Centre, Rotherham, on Wednesday March 25.

Over the past ten years, Get up to Speed has showcased engineering career opportunities to over 19,000 young people and their families from across the South Yorkshire region and beyond.

John Barber, CEO of the work-wise Foundation, said: "This event is made possible because of the strong support of local businesses, but, in particular, our headline sponsors. Liberty Steel, CBE+ and AESSEAL have supported us for many years now and it is fantastic to consistently receive such strong support from some of the region's most respected manufacturers. This year we’ll be showcasing just what local pupils, apprentices and employers have achieved by working together and being part of Get up to Speed over the past 10 years. It will be a fantastic celebration of achievement at all levels.”

AESSEAL' designs, manufactures and supplies mechanical sealing and reliability focused engineering solutions to major companies around the world, across a broad range of industries. AESSEAL® employs more than 1,600 employees in some 230 locations worldwide, of whom approximately 650 are in the UK and more than 330 in Rotherham, home to its Global Technology Centre HQ.

Julia Bloomer, Head of Learning and Development and HR at AESSEAL plc, said: "Over recent years there has been a vast decrease in the number of students choosing engineering as a career within the UK. As an employer within this industry, we feel it is our responsibility to raise awareness of the amazing careers available within the industry. By attending Get up to Speed each year, we are able to work with other companies in the region, to showcase the opportunities available to students, teachers and parents."

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Liberty Speciality Steels, which has facilities in Sheffield and Rotherham, is a highly experienced manufacturer of engineered steels, with capabilities ranging from liquid steel production right through to high-value precision engineered components.

Mick Hood, HR Director, Liberty Steel UK, said: "We have been the headline sponsor for the Get up to Speed event from its inception and the company is proud to continue this association. The event brings awareness to the next generation of engineers and is critical to sustaining the skills and capability needed to support our business."

Chesterfield-based CBE+ is a specialist precision engineering multi-disciplinary sub-contractor, with divisions dedicated to Electroless Nickel Plating, Gear manufacture, Beam Pumps and Laboratories.

Marie Cooper, Group CEO of CBE+, said: "There are many reasons why we sponsor Get up to Speed and the main one is that it allows us to build on our relationships with the next generation of engineers. We recognise that by our region hosting such an influential event, young people are being inspired to follow their dreams into many different roles in engineering – this can only be a good thing, not only for our business but for the manufacturing sector in general."

Get up to Speed with STEM is an annual event, which is designed for young people, their families and teachers to see some of the UK's best innovations first hand, hear from and talk to those involved in their success and learn about the future of the sector and its evolution through technology.

This year's event will include a particular focus on robotics and renewables, feature ten zones to mark ten years and include presentations from previous visitors that have gone on to secure a career in STEM-related industries as a result of past events.

also gives companies the opportunity to showcase their business whilst helping to address the skills gap in STEM-related industries.

The free event is open to young people, families, individuals, schools and employers to visit.

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News: Get up to Speed skills event inspires future engineers

South Yorkshire hosted the largest private sector skills showcase event last week, which was attended by over 3,000 young people from 69 schools and involved over 90 businesses.

And the organisers are already gearing up for next year's Get up to Speed (GUTS) event, which will again be held at Magna Science Adventure Centre on March 25 2020. This will also be the event's tenth Anniversary.

The STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Manufacturing) event was designed to inspire students from 8 to 25 years about careers in science, technology and the manufacturing industries, through a day of fun and interactive activities. Pupils attended from 55 South Yorkshire schools, whilst some pupils travelled from as far away as Newcastle!

Held at Magna in Rotherham, Get up to Speed involved exhibitors from industries as diverse as space technologies, medical implants, aerospace, acoustics, construction, rail, water and climate management and postural support. Companies, such as CNC manufacturer Mazak attended from as far afield as Worcester, whilst dozens of businesses attended from the Yorkshire region.

The motor industry for example was represented by the Sheffield Made Simplex 1921 automobile, right up to a McLaren and Tesla Model X Falcon Wing demonstrating its full dance mode.

Guest speakers included 24 year old Kate Turner who, as well as being a fully qualified train driver, is head of planning and the youngest ever senior manager in DB Cargo (UK) Rail based in Doncaster. Dr Rahul Mandal, research associate at the University of Sheffield's Nuclear Advanced Research Centre (Nuclear AMRC) in Rotherham and the 2018 winner of the Great British Bake off (pictured) who was explaining that "if you can do baking you can do science and engineering and if you are doing engineering you can bake!"

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The day, organised by the work-wise Foundation and supported by businesses and other local support organisations whilst fun and interactive has a serious purpose as CEO of the work-wise Foundation, John Barber explains: "Get up to Speed aims to play its part in growing our wealth creating skills base to help us achieve our economic and social ambitions. It was created by industry to introduce, inspire, inform and interact with our next generation of scientist, engineers, designers and business leaders. It aims not only to reach out to young people but also those who influence and advise them so they also understand what's out there not only now but also what's coming in the future."

The event was sponsored by Liberty Speciality Steels, AESSEAL plc, Cooper Brown Enterprises, Doncasters Bramah and Capita.

Mick Hood, HR director at Liberty Speciality Steels, who were headline sponsor of the event, said: "It's simple for me, I truly believe the success of a business relies on its people. The Get Up To Speed event plays a vital part in building awareness in young men and women in education, their parents and their educators of what a career in manufacturing looks like and the underpinning STEM subjects required. The event grows every year and Liberty is proud to be part of it in its ninth year."

Marie Cooper, managing director at Cooper Brown Enterprises, added: "The whole day was action-packed and filled with great opportunities for young people to be enthused about engineering, science and technology careers – and they were! There was a real buzz of excitement around the event, which lasted the whole day! There were many more female students attending this year too, which was great to see."

Two business/education competitions were judged at Get up to Speed, including the Innovation contest, sponsored by Institute of Engineering and Technology, for which the students worked on a real business challenge. The winner was King Ecgbert School. Gulliver's held the Gully Fest wonderful world primary challenge which involved young people designing new rides and attractions for the 250 acre theme park which is being built in Rotherham. The winners of this competition were Wales School.

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News: New record for Get up to Speed

Over 3,000 attendees are planning to Get up to Speed (GUTS) later this month at the region's largest engineering and skills event specifically for young people - now recognised as largest of its kind in the North.

Hosted at Magna Science Adventure Centre in Rotherham, this hugely popular interactive event is designed to showcase science, technology, engineering and manufacturing and its employers to young people, parents and educators in the South Yorkshire region and beyond.

Now in its ninth year, GUTS has grown exponentially and already has more pre-event bookings than ever before, with over 3,000 attendees registered and 59 schools and education establishments.

The event, championed by employers and delivered through The work-wise Foundation alongside key partners in the private and public sectors. It has an impressive list of businesses exhibiting, including the likes of DB Cargo UK, McLaren Automotive, Tinsley Bridge, Polypipe, AMG Superalloys and Yamazaki Mazak UK Ltd.

Headline sponsors for this year are Liberty Speciality Steels, Cooper Brown Enterprises and AESSEAL plc, with other event sponsors including Doncasters Bramah, Go Construct (CITB), Elevation Recruitment Group, the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), Highlander IT & Communications, Keebles, Orchid, Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), Spotlight Studios, Hydra Creative, Made in Sheffield and the Manufacturing Forum.

Local companies understand the need to help celebrate and promote the industry, not just nationally and internationally, but more importantly locally, to ensure that there are enough talented and skilled young people entering the industry to meet demand.

Apprentices and graduates take time to talk to young people and those who educate and influence them about the opportunities and careers open to them. Nine years on, some of those previous visitors are attending as apprentices and graduates and telling their own stories and inspiring others.

Mick Hood, HR director at Liberty Speciality Steels, said: "We continue to support the Get up to Speed event because it is a fantastic way of raising awareness among young people, teachers and parents of the exciting opportunities on offer by choosing an engineering or science-based career - like those we offer in our apprenticeship training programme. Each year the event gets bigger and better and I'm sure this year will be no different."

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John Barber, CEO of the work-wise Foundation and Chair of the Get up to Speed Steering Group, added: "Get up to Speed is free to visit and is designed to inspire and inform through a wide range of hands on activities, showcasing many different businesses from traditional to advanced technologies, plus support and educational organisations.

"This year we are showcasing the whole breadth of what the region has to offer, from traditional tool manufacturing to aerospace; sports technologies to construction. This year we have even added a space zone! We live in a fantastic region for innovation, design, engineering and manufacturing, with some amazing opportunities for our young people – they just need to know about them and how to access the them!

"There will be the chance to have a go on lots of things, including Virtual Reality Welding, CNC Machining, a visit to our National Space Centre Dome, Virtual and Augmented reality, acoustic science and technology, Formula 1 and flight simulators and a Coyote Reconnaissance Vehicle. There is event an Apollo 50 Moonbase, designed and delivered by students from the Sheffield Engineering Leadership Academy at Sheffield University.

"Recognising the importance of those who influence young people's choices, we will also be running teacher awareness seminars on the day, so they can take back to school knowledge, labour market information and practical activities to spread the word further."

The day gets underway with a Business Breakfast and panel debate sponsored by Elevation Recruitment Group, "One small step…" which will focus on to encourage more young people into the industry, take that first step, help them succeed and become indispensable employees. Guests will hear from speakers at different stages in their own career journey and their thoughts on what role industry has to play in making this happen.

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News: Driving the skills agenda

In addition to showcasing science, technology and engineering to young people, parents and educators, the recent Get up to Speed (GUTS) event in Rotherham brought together a number of key figures to discuss the manufacturing workforce, now and in the future.

The event, driven by employers and delivered through The work-wise Foundation, is now believed to be the largest of its kind in the North. It started in 2011 and moved to its home at the Magna Science Adventure Centre in Rotherham in 2015.

Kicking off the day at a business breakfast, Master Cutler, Kenneth Cooke, the owner of CTW (Hardfacing) Ltd, said that the drive by employers to establish the event showed that they "understood the need to promote industry, both nationally and within the area."

The guests heard of the shortage of skilled engineers in the region and the country. 186,000 new engineers are required nationally per year between now and 2024 to fill the expected skills gap.

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John Bohan, senior director, engineering & manufacturing at Rotherham's Elevation Recruitment Group discussed the impact of skills shortages and described how the GUTS event was key to "inspiring the next generation, but also leading to conversations about how we drive forward the skills agenda."

And as Will Stirling, editor of The Manufacturing Review (pictured top, right), said: "If the local engineering sector doesn't come together to do this, then who will? It is unlikely to be the Government or schools."

The event, which attracts over 2,000 attendees, is delivered through The work-wise Foundation. Headline sponsors for this year were Liberty Speciality Steels, Cooper Brown Enterprises and Careers Y&H, with other event sponsors including the likes of AESSEAL, Doncasters Bramah, the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), Santander and Elevation Recruitment Group.

The business breakfast also brought together a panel comprising of David Richards CBE, chairman of Prodrive and chairman of the UK Motor Sports Association (MSA), Julie Kenny CBE DL, the entrepreneur who built the successful Pyronix company in Rotherham, and Rachel Abbot, managing director of Cobra Sport Performance Exhaust Systems.

The panel discussed a number of issues including recruitment concerns, inspiring young people, and especially women, into engineering, evolving a business and investing in skills.

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Richard Caborn, president of the work-wise Foundation, said: "Events like this are not just recognised as an "add-on" but are integral to the skills agenda.

"We are 13,000 engineers short in this region and it will cost us if we don't address this and get it right.

"It's why the Government has asked us to double the number of apprentices at the AMRC Training Centre. We'll soon see a snotty-nosed kid from the Manor estate or Parson's Cross who will come out with a PhD in engineering. That is social mobility on a scale we've not seen in this country."

David Richards gave the keynote speech to discuss his aims for using motorsport as hook to attract people into engineering, similar to how GUTS has used speed for its attractions - the Bloodhound supersonic car, McLaren supercars and Rolls-Royce jet engines.

Richards (pictured top, centre) said: "This is a credit to Sheffield and Rotherham. I wish there were events like this when I was leaving school."

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News: Rotherham revved up for Get Up To Speed

Get up to Speed (GUTS), the region's largest engineering and skills event specifically for young people, is making a welcome return to its now well-established home at Magna Science Adventure Centre in Rotherham this week.

This hugely popular interactive event is designed to showcase science, technology, engineering and manufacturing and its employers to young people, parents and educators in the South Yorkshire region and beyond.

Now in its eighth year, 2018 has had more pre-event bookings than ever before, currently standing at over 2,350, with over 50 schools and education establishments from across the region and beyond expected to attend.

The 2018 event takes place at Magna on April 18.

The event, driven by employers and delivered through The work-wise Foundation is now believed to be the largest of its kind in the North. It has an impressive list of businesses exhibiting, including the likes of Rolls-Royce, McLaren, Tinsley Bridge, Polypipe and Yamazaki Mazak UK Ltd.

Headline sponsors for this year are Liberty Speciality Steels, Cooper Brown Enterprises and Careers Y&H, with other event sponsors including the likes of AESSEAL, Doncasters Bramah, the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), Santander and Elevation Recruitment Group.

Mick Hood HR director at Liberty Speciality Steels, said: "We continue to support the Get up to Speed event because it is a fantastic way of raising awareness among young people, teachers and parents of the exciting opportunities on offer by choosing an engineering or science-based career. Each year the event gets bigger and better and I'm sure this year will be no different."

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John Barber, CEO of the work-wise Foundation and Chair of the GUTS Steering Group, added: "Get up to Speed is free to visit and is designed to inspire and inform through a wide range of hands on activities, showcasing many different businesses from traditional to advanced technologies plus support and education organisations.

"This year we are showcasing the whole breadth of what the region has to offer from traditional cutlery and tools manufacturing to aerospace to buildings and bridge construction (we even have our own Bailey Bridge for students to build) and everything in between. This is a fantastic region for STEM with some fantastic opportunities for or young people.

"There will be the chance to have a go on lots of things including Virtual Reality Welding, CNC Machining, VR and Augmented Reality tools for the rail industry, Formula 1 and flight simulators to experiencing our Theatre of Engineering, designed and delivered by students from the Sheffield Engineering Leadership Academy at Sheffield University.

"Recognising the importance of those who influence young people's choices we will also be running teacher awareness seminars on the day, so they can take back to school knowledge, labour market information and practical activities and spread the word further."

The day gets underway with a Business Breakfast and panel debate sponsored by Elevation Recruitment Group on skills including an address from David Richards CBE, chairman of Prodrive and chairman of the UK Motor Sports Association (MSA). Richards is also the former chairman of Aston Martin as well as Benetton and BAR Formula One Teams.

GUTS website

Images: A Klinkenberg / GUTS

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