Vince Cable takes part in ECITB theatre in education roadshow at Teddington School
The Teddington School, Middlesex, played host yesterday to local MP, Dr Vince Cable and the ECITB, theatre in education roadshow, ‘Be a Part of Engineering Construction’. The Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) has designed the interactive roadshow to introduce young people to the career opportunities available in engineering construction. The industry is currently facing a serious shortfall in skilled workers and needs to attract 60,000 more people into engineering construction over the next ten years.
Dr Cable commented: “ The ECITB’s Schools Tour initiative to raise the awareness of engineering construction careers is very positive in these times of youth unemployment. It is an exciting way to engage with young people and I am delighted the ECITB is able to showcase the industry in this way.”
The hugely successful tour, designed for students aged 13 to 16, visits around 150 STEM schools (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) across the country each year, aiming to increase the awareness of the engineering construction industry and focus on the importance of the industry in young peoples lives.
The Teddington students had the opportunity to find out about the career routes available in engineering construction and the apprenticeship opportunities on offer. The use of interactive presentations, multi-media and surprise celebrity guests are all used to engage with the students and to talk to them about the many benefits of starting a career in the industry.
Not content to sit on the sidelines, Dr Cable volunteered to take part in the quiz part of the show. The quiz is used to engage with the students and reinforce key facts about engineering construction.
Dr Cable said: “It’s great to be able to support the students at Teddington School in this way. Engineering construction offers numerous career options to young people and the ECITB schools tour has opened the eyes of these young people to the possibilities of working in this industry.
David Edwards, ECITB Chief Executive who also attended the roadshow at Teddington School commented: “The engineering construction industry is in a position to be able to offer exciting and well paid careers to young people. Our latest manpower forecasts predict a 30 per cent growth in manpower over the next ten years with a significant opportunity for 60,000 more skilled workers. It is vital to the future of engineering construction in this country that we raise awareness of the industry with young people.”
As part of the roadshow, teachers are provided with ECITB careers teaching support. Lesson one, carried out with the students before attending the roadshow, introduces students to the idea of skill sets, highlights the link between skills sets and career opportunities and finally introduces students to the idea of apprenticeships, the term ‘Engineering Construction’ and the name ECITB. The second lesson plan, intended for students after attending the ECITB Roadshow focuses on the practicalities of starting work and on students being able to construct their own CV’s.
“Students realised the huge range of careers that engineering construction can open the doorway to,” said a teacher commenting on the tour. “They were amazed at the variety of options. It was fun too!”
This year the video features Jason Bradbury, host of The Gadget Show US and The Gadget Show UK. With a passion for technology and science that is utterly infectious, Jason also boasts excellent comic abilities to engage with the audience.
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If you’re interested in having a look at the ECITB Schools Tour in action or sending a photographer along please contact ECITB’s, Communications Officer, Ulrika Meegolla on 01923 402118.
To view a video of the schools tour, please click on the link below
http://www.ecitb.org.uk/Programmes/Apprenticeships/Multimedia/Videos/
Notes to editors:
About the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board
- The ECITB is the statutory and charitable body set up to secure engineering construction skills now and for the future. It has delivered training successfully to over one million learners over 20 years, and is led and funded by employers from the industry, ensuring the services are relevant and fit for purpose
- The ECITB provides professional advice, information, skills development and qualifications to help individuals in engineering construction and anyone interested in a career in the industry to succeed. A dedicated website has been set up to provide more detailed information http://careers.ecitb.org.uk/
- The ECITB sets a range of occupational and training standards, awards industry specific qualifications and invests £20 million each year in support of apprentices and adult learners across a range of skills. From entry level craft and technician programmes through to advanced engineering project management skills. In 2011, 65,000 people were supported through the ECITB’s range of approved programmes delivered by a network of over 200 approved providers.
- The ECITB strategy is built on three objectives, these are to attract, qualify and develop talented people for the industry. The ECITB operating processes that secure the depth, breadth and quality of service are: employer engagement, identification of skills needs and priorities, stakeholder and provider engagement, delivery and continuous improvement. The ECITB provides support to employers, their employees and apprentices to design, build, maintain and decommission nuclear, power, pharmaceutical, renewables, chemicals, food, water, oil & gas facilities and other processes.
For more information visit www.ecitb.org.uk
About Jason Bradbury:
Jason Bradbury is the host of The Gadget Show US & The Gadget Show UK. He has worked as a TV presenter and producer on hundreds of shows in a career spanning almost twenty years.
When it comes to gadgets, science and all things tech, Jason is a force of nature. His own inventions, which include the world's first working jet-powered hoverboard, have become legendary with viewers of The Gadget Show. He is also a private pilot and is licensed to build transmitters by the Home Office.
With a passion for technology and science that is utterly infectious, Jason brings confidence to his performance on camera rarely seen in factual television. He also boasts excellent comic abilities, developed during his years a performing in a double act with Little Britain star David Walliams.
01923 402118
ulrika.meegolla@ecitb.org.uk
About the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board
The ECITB is the statutory and charitable body set up to secure engineering construction skills now and for the future. It has delivered training successfully to over one million learners over 20 years, and is led and funded by employers from the industry, ensuring the services are relevant and fit for purposeThe ECITB provides professional advice, information, skills development and qualifications to help individuals in engineering construction and anyone interested in a career in the industry to succeed. A dedicated website has been set up to provide more detailed information http://careers.ecitb.org.uk/ The ECITB sets a range of occupational and training standards, awards industry specific qualifications and invests £20 million each year in support of apprentices and adult learners across a range of skills. From entry level craft and technician programmes through to advanced engineering project management skills. In 2011, 65,000 people were supported through the ECITB’s range of approved programmes delivered by a network of over 200 approved providers. The ECITB strategy is built on three objectives, these are to attract, qualify and develop talented people for the industry. The ECITB operating processes that secure the depth, breadth and quality of service are: employer engagement, identification of skills needs and priorities, stakeholder and provider engagement, delivery and continuous improvement. The ECITB provides support to employers, their employees and apprentices to design, build, maintain and decommission nuclear, power, pharmaceutical, renewables, chemicals, food, water, oil & gas facilities and other processes.
For more information visit www.ecitb.org.uk
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