What More welcomes future female engineers

What More UK, manufacturers of bakeware and housewares, recently hosted a visit from GCSE Design and Technology students from Withington Girls’ School in Manchester, who have an interest in becoming engineers of the future.

The students have been studying designing and making principles, including a broad range of design processes, materials, techniques and equipment. One production process is injection moulding, which What More do on a huge scale, producing millions of houseware products a year. What More are always encouraging schools to visit to see their first class facilities, and hope to inspire more female engineers to apply for their apprenticeship programme.

Following an introduction by company director Tony Grimshaw OBE explaining that their products are shipped to 75 countries worldwide, and they are well known for their engineering excellence, the students then had a tour of the facilities. They were informed about the design and engineering processes, as well as seeing the impressive production facilities up close.

Fabiola Cotton, head of design technology at Withington Girls’ School, said on the day: “We wanted to give the students an opportunity to see what they’re learning from a book about manufacturing, injection moulding, how things are made in mass quantities, and how things go through a warehouse - actually seeing the scale of manufacturing equipment, and how equipment might work together.

“We’ve only been running our GCSE DT for the last three years, and of course that’s been during the pandemic, so we haven’t been able to take students out to see factories – this is the first time ever, so that’s why it’s important!”

Camille Corbett, a Year 10 student, commented: “We’re doing Design Technology at school, and I’ve just started the first year of my GCSE. I like the innovation, coming up with new ideas, and thinking about the different ways things work, and what you can do to make things better!”

Company director Tony Grimshaw OBE, added: “It was a fantastic visit from a really engaged group of students and teachers. I have to say it was one of the best visits we have had. The students were so attentive and wanted to be involved, and they all seemed to really enjoy it too. It really was a pleasure taking them around, the factory never stops impressing visitors and me alike. It was spotlessly clean and everyone working hard! I hope this group are inspired to be female engineers of the future, and would welcome them to apply to What More.”

Garry Ireland, operations director at What More, said: “What a great group of students, I really enjoyed their time with us today. They were certainly interested in everything we do, so it feels really worthwhile being able to explain our processes and show off our fantastic equipment. I wish them all the best for the future!”

What More UK manufactures storage boxes and housewares of all kinds under the Wham brand including bakeware, around-the-sink items, products for the home laundry, utility room, and items for the garden like planters and troughs. What More’s products are all made in East Lancashire and are sold in 75 countries around the world.