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Employers Set To Help the South Yorkshire’s Youngsters to Get Up To Speed!

The date has been released for the next ‘Get up to Speed’ (GUTS), the region’s largest engineering and skills event specifically for young people aged 8 to 25 years. It will return to the Magna Science Adventure Centre in Rotherham on 18th April 2018.

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 and attracting over 2,100 attendees in 2017, the event aims to inspire; build confidence and knowledge in these sectors as a great place to work in a fun and interactive way.

A number of local and national employers and organisations are already signed up to sponsor the event, including South Yorkshire companies Liberty Speciality Steels, Cooper Brown Enterprises, AESSEAL plc, Doncasters Bramah, Highlander IT & Telecoms, plus the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) and the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET). School children will be attending, not only from South Yorkshire, but from all over the UK.

John Barber CEO of the work-wise Foundation and Chair of the GUTS Steering Group explains “Engineering alone requires 186,000 new staff nationally every year between now and 2024 to fill the expected skills gap. Companies that take part in ‘Get up to Speed’ understand the need to promote the industry to young people to ensure that there are enough talented and skilled recruits entering the industry to fill the growing skills gap. Get up to Speed also helps to enthuse the next generation of engineers.”


Many local companies and some national companies get involved in the event through the work-wise Foundation and attend with their apprentices and graduates to talk to young people and those who educate and influence them about the opportunities and careers open to them. Eight years on some of those early visitors are attending as apprentices and graduates and telling their own stories and inspiring others.
Mick Hood, human resources 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 when you choose an engineering or science-based career. Each year the event goes from strength to strength and the 2018 GUTS looks like it will be the best and best yet!”

John Barber adds: “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. For the 2018 event we will extend the focus to science and technology as well as engineering and manufacturing as we recognise the ever changing range of opportunities opening up to young people.”

Get up to Speed consists of a range of interactive and exciting activities, which has included Virtual Reality Welding, CNC Machining, VR and Augmented Reality tools for the rail industry to a human powered sail rocket and hang gliders, a bi-plane with Vulcan and a female stunt pilot. Inspirational vehicles have been displayed including the Bloodhound SSC, F1 cars, Drag and Racing Motorcycles, Armoured Military Vehicles, Rail Ranger off road vehicle that also runs on rail tracks and University Formula Racing Teams, a friendly Dalek robot! There will also be teacher awareness seminars on the day so they can take back to school knowledge and practical information.

Get up to speed already has over 30 exhibitors confirmed already but is looking to involve more local and regional businesses to showcase themselves to young people and help share this unique celebration of engineering and manufacturing.

Any schools, colleges or individuals interested in attending or exhibiting should contact John Barber at [email protected] or visit http://www.getuptospeed.org.uk/ to find out more and register.