GET UP TO SPEED WITH ENGINEERING AND MANUFACTURING 2015!

I was at Magna in Rotherham yesterday to attend 'Get Up To Speed 2015'. This brilliant event attracted record attendances and was was specifically designed for young people and their families and teachers to see some of the fastest vehicles, innovations and people on earth first hand, hear from and talk to those involved in their successes and learn about how their success has been achieved and the fundamental role design, engineering and manufacturing have played in that success.

Get up to Speed with Engineering and Manufacturing, now in its fifth year, is aimed at inspiring the next generation of manufacturers and engineers who will play a vital part in future innovation and commercial success. The Sheffield Region is recognised internationally for its expertise in high-precision engineering, metals and alloy production, and the high-quality design and manufacturing of products for a wide range of global industries. This celebration of engineering and design demonstrated the Sheffield City Region's commitment to future skills and opportunities with over 50 local engineering and manufacturing companies exhibiting at the event and explaining career opportunities within their businesses. There was opportunities to meet young apprentices and graduates working in this vitally important area and to find out what it’s like to work in the sector and what skills and qualifications young people need to succeed.

The Get up to Speed event, organised by the Work-wise Foundation, is one of the biggest events of its kind in Yorkshire and was sponsorsed by The Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) and Tata Steel.  The highly interactive event has doubled in size this year, after moving to the Magna Science Adventure Centre in Rotherham. Attractions included a full sized aircraft built by students and volunteers at Robin Hood Airport, a new generation of android robots and quad copters – including one controlled by brain waves

Also on show was BMW’s electric powered I8 supercar and I3 family saloon and a hydrogen fuel cell powered vehicle, run by Sheffield-based green energy experts ITM Power, single seater racing cars and simulators, showing what it’s like to drive a Formula One car or racing motorcycle, tackle a down hill sled run and a cycle race or train to compete in a canoe.

There was also a number of challenges for visitors to take part in, including two construction challenges, one of which involves building remote controlled models from Lego. Exhibitors also included local colleges and universities, top training organisations and more than 40 leading manufacturers ranging from exclusive cutlery and giftware companies and medical implant businesses to aerospace and nuclear power component manufacturers and pioneers of powder metallurgy technology.