The UK’s Glass Academy and Sheffield College have entered into a new phase of partnership to promote and stimulate interest in engineering and manufacturing, giving a boost to skills and jobs in the sector.
The Glass Academy is the training and skills development initiative of the British Glass Manufacturers’ Confederation.
Together with Sheffield College, it has enjoyed a successful partnership over the past two years, establishing meaningful work experience placements, interview practice sessions and careers advice on the industry and STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) sector careers in general.
The new five-year agreement aims to consolidate the partnership work to date.
It will focus on extending and embedding a range of initiatives and strategies that will promote the glass industry and STEM careers as stimulating and rewarding pathways, as well as to help the sectors better meet their future skills needs.
The partnership will provide development and progression opportunities for those currently in STEM related careers and a wider offering for pre-employability.
New initiatives to be implemented will include contributions to the curriculum, working with relevant college departments and staff, a wider apprenticeship programme, student employability and work readiness training offering and opportunities for Sheffield College staff development.
Dave Dalton, CEO of British Glass, added: “Our current relationship with the College has provided a great foundation for us to build on.
“We are committed to re-establishing the Sheffield City Region as a world leader in engineering and manufacturing and building on Sheffield’s proud heritage of industrial and technical excellence. Now is the right time to progress and extend the opportunities for young people in the STEM sector.”
Both organisations will be working to raise awareness of the wide range of careers available in the glass industry and other STEM related sectors, with the ultimate aim of creating a successful partnership model that can be applied to other regions and sectors.
Caption: L-R Dave Dalton CEO, The British Glass Manufacturers’ Confederation and Heather MacDonald, Chief Executive of The Sheffield College, sign the partnership agreement.
