SCARBOROUGH CONTINUES INVESTING IN THE UK'S ENGINEERING FUTURE

Scarborough's precision engineering companies are organising another Scarborough Engineering Week for October 2011, following the success of the inaugural event.

Scarborough Engineering Week is organised by NDI Member Company Unison and leading Scarborough industrial businesses including Plaxton, Blue Bird Vehicles and UPM Raflatac, in conjunction with public sector agencies, and regional educational establishments including Yorkshire Coast College.

Some 400 students from the region attended the first ever Scarborough Engineering Week in May, which showcased advanced engineering technologies and working practices. Among the attractions were a Formula 1 car, the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre's MANTRA vehicle with its manufacturing machinery and simulators, and educational tours around two large engineering businesses.

Scarborough is a regional centre of excellence in the UK for industrial engineering with over 20 major companies - several of which have built world leading brands. The aim of the event organisers is to increase the inflow of apprentices and skilled staff, by highlighting the career possibilities, and establishing closer links with local higher educational colleges.

"We see this event playing a central role in the expansion strategies of the region's precision engineering businesses," says one of the organisers, Shona Lloyd, who works for the Scarborough-based metalworking machine builder, Unison.  "With a higher flow of skilled people into our engineering departments, we believe we will grow even faster, and maintain Scarborough's reputation for enterprise long into the future."

Scarborough Engineering Week 2011 will take place in Scarborough's Spa Complex. The show is expected to be considerably bigger than the 2010 event, and one of the major display highlights has already been booked: the new 'Bloodhound' jet- and rocket-powered car, which is being built to smash the current 763 mph land speed record.