The Wirral Chamber of Commerce Manufacturing & Engineering forum has been established to provide a platform for members to collaborate, debate, inform and maximise sector opportunities.
Our Manufacturing & Engineering forum will feature networking opportunities with many other businesses within the sector along with attendees from the Wirral Chamber’s other sectors. Furthermore, the event will feature guest speakers providing discussion on industry relevant topics as well as what’s happening in the local area.
This Manufacturing & Engineering Sector Forum’s objective, is to raise awareness of the local organizations who can support you in finding the staff to meet your current and future skills needs. We have a great line- up featuring, training providers, funding bodies and recruitment agencies.
The manufacturing ‘skills-gap’ is a major cause of concern across the sector, with employers struggling to find those with the right skills. The aim of the forum is to raise awareness of the wide range of support available in the region to help enable Wirral manufacturers to combat the skills problem. The forum will provide insight into the support available from school leavers, to becoming an apprentice. The forum aims to cover all the bases, so you can plug your skills gap. As the nature of manufacturing and engineering changes, its important that they are prepared for future staffing requirements.
Wirral’s own, ‘The Engineering College’ and ‘Wirral Met’ will be presenting. They will be showcasing how they are training the manufacturing and engineering workforce of the future.
Joanne Smith from Wirral Borough Council will be with us to discuss the recruitment opportunities available through Intermediate Labour Market (ILM) funding. The fund hopes to enable businesses to train up a new member of staff, with a reduced cost and a lower risk.
The Apprenticeship Hub will be speaking, providing an insight into how they can help you as a business to take-on an apprentice. In addition, to talk us through Wirral Apprentice Funding will be Gareth Jones from Wirral Borough Council. The service, fully funds the training costs for 16-18-year-old apprentices and will part fund the training costs for those aged 19 and over.
We are delighted to have Liverpool John Moors University talk about their Degree Level apprenticeships at the event. A Degree Apprenticeship is an opportunity for a business to provide a good mix of on-the-job training and study. The university study element means an apprentice will be able to bring the latest thinking and skills to the employer. We are also delighted that, in addition to Degree Apprenticeships, LJMU will briefly speak of their Clean Growth Project. The Clean Growth Network project links SME’s with university expertise. It provides an opportunity to tap into an extensive knowledge base and university facilities to develop innovative green ideas onto a commercialised product or service.
Amanda from Inspired Energy, will be providing a full lowdown on the solutions to your business’s energy procurement challenges. Inspired Energy provides risk management, contract tendering and offer advice to manage your energy more efficiently. Furthermore, Inspired Energy will be discussing their unique chamber member offer, and their provision of renewable energy solutions.
The Agenda:
9:00 – 9:30am – Arrival & Networking – Tea/Coffee to be served
Introduction & Welcome from Jonathan Quinn
The Engineering College – Matt Ryan
Wirral Met – Phil Jones
Intermediate Labour Market Funding (ILM) – Joanne Smith, Wirral Borough Council
The Apprenticeship Hub – Siobhan Grosscurth
Wirral Apprentice Funding – Gareth Jones, Wirral Borough Council
Degree Level Apprenticeships – Steve Jones / Marlena Price Williams – LJMU
Clean Growth UK – Anthony Seasman – LJMU
Supporting your Business with Energy renewals and advancements. – Amanda Collins, Inspired Energy
Tour of Engineering College
12.00 – Finish & Networking Opportunities