CoolKit Helping Find Manufacturing Stars of Tomorrow

Burnley-based refrigerated vehicle specialist CoolKit Ltd is sponsoring the Lancashire heats of a competition to find the North West’s manufacturing stars of tomorrow.

Organised by The Manufacturing Institute, The Make It in Manufacturing North West Championship gives businesses the chance to work directly with schools to engage young people in manufacturing.

The Challenge involves engaging five businesses from each of the region’s counties – Merseyside, Lancashire, Cumbria, Cheshire and Greater Manchester – to support a one-day competitive activity, organised by The Manufacturing Institute, for schoolchildren aged 13-14 from across their county.

The winning team of each heat will then go forward to the grand regional finals, where the champions will be crowned at Manchester United Football Stadium on 15th March 2017.

The Lancashire heats are set to take place at Ribby Hall Village, Wrea Green, Preston on 30th November 2016. Stephanie Boyle, Events Executive at The Manufacturing Institute, said: “This year Make It in Manufacturing is working with manufacturers across the North West on a series of competitions to encourage young people to consider careers within manufacturing. The North West Championship heats will be taking place in Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Merseyside, Cheshire and Cumbria and we are pleased to announce that CoolKit in Burnley will be the Headline Sponsor of the North West Championship Lancashire heat.

“We are really excited to be working with CoolKit on the North West Championship in Lancashire. CoolKit will be working directly with schools across Lancashire, helping to engage young people into manufacturing by showcasing the work that they do and the opportunities that are on the students’ doorsteps when they leave school.

“By sponsoring this event CoolKit are helping to develop valuable links between employers and the local community, nurture new talent and encourage rewarding careers.”

Steve Wilkinson, head of operations at CoolKit, said: “As a major growing manufacturing business in Lancashire, we are delighted to have the opportunity to be part of such an innovative program for young people in the local area. A large proportion of our workforce is based in Operations at CoolKit, in our new large workshop premises. "It is important to broadcast the message to our future workforce that manufacturing is an exciting and vibrant industry to be part of, and for them to understand all the interesting areas it is possible to get involved in within a manufacturing business. We are looking forward to leading the Lancashire schools in this event and hopefully provide some valuable guidance for the next generation of manufacturing talent.”