Leeds Manufacturing Festival announces headline sponsors for 2023 programme

Leeds Manufacturing Festival, which was formally launched at an event addressed by West Yorkshire Mayor Tracey Brabin and manufacturing employers’ organisation MAKE UK, has secured a number of headline sponsors for its 2023 programme.

Leeds City College, engineering and manufacturing recruiter E3 Recruitment and Next Gen Makers, which runs a benchmarking and accreditation scheme for manufacturing and engineering apprenticeships, are all backing this year’s programme of events. The festival aims to highlight the range and depth of well-paid careers offered by Leeds’ 1,800 manufacturing businesses.

A spokesman said: “Recruiting new talent into the industry is a growing challenge for UK manufacturers and the festival, organised by the Leeds Manufacturing Alliance, aims to make connections between young people and manufacturing and engineering firms to bring the next generation of employees into the industry.”

Mitch Scott, head of engineering at Leeds City College, said: “We’re really pleased to be supporting the festival once again. Our engineering and manufacturing courses are cornerstones of what we offer and, particularly with the new T levels, which combine classroom learning with hands-on experience in the workplace, our students are gaining skills that ideally equip them really well for the vast range of opportunities in the sector.

“The festival plays an invaluable role in demonstrating the scope of exciting manufacturing industry careers that are on offer.”

Now in its sixth year, Leeds Manufacturing Festival runs until July 2023. Highlights include manufacturing ‘treks’, which will see school and college students visiting factories across the city, live careers panels and the Leeds Manufacturing Festival awards ceremony, recognising some of the rising stars and highest-achieving young people currently working in Leeds’ manufacturing sector.

Mr Booth said: “The industry is in dire need of new talent, and in need of fresh perspectives and skills that younger generations can bring. There’s been a 34 per cent drop in manufacturing and engineering apprenticeship starts in the last couple of years, and we also face the growing skills gap which is affecting over 85 per cent of businesses across the UK.

“Manufacturing is such a diverse and innovative space. The opportunities are endless and we find that most young people just aren’t aware of the different roles available that would suit their skillset. It’s an absolute pleasure to be working with Leeds Manufacturing Festival again, and working together to bridge the skills gap.”

Next Gen Makers’ managing director Adam Tipper added: “We are proud to support the Leeds Manufacturing Festival and its efforts to inspire the next generation towards careers in engineering and manufacturing in Leeds. These industries are vital to the UK economy, society and creating the technologies that we all rely upon, so it is essential that we raise awareness of the fantastic careers available within the sector whilst creating a platform for employers to showcase their opportunities.”