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As part of the final event of the Made Futures Virtual Careers Fair, Made in Group sat down with 4 industry experts from the South Yorkshire region, to discuss employability, provide an insight into the skills industry is looking for, and highlight practical ways of breaking into or developing a career in manufacturing.
With there being a different event every day of the expo within various regions throughout the country, these "Meet Britain's Makers" comprises a panel of experts who will share their own career stories, tips and information on their sector, followed by an opportunity to ask questions.
This event featured an expert panel of Allan Joyce (Managing Director at Balmoral Tanks), Marie Cooper (Managing Director at CBE+), Lisa Pogson (Managing Director at Airmaster Air Conditioning) and Ken Cleal (Operations Manager at Stauff). Following on from these speakers providing a short introduction into themselves and their companies, Yasmin Banner of Made in Group began to ask the panelists questions
In terms of the precise skills that industry is looking for, “engineering”, “design” (i.e. CAD) and also “practical” skills on the shop floor were all things that Allan Joyce foregrounded as being vital.
Marie Cooper told a fantastic story of a jobseekers who showed their initiative and enthusiasm by simply going to CBE+’s premises, politely asking to speak with Marie herself as the Managing Director, and making it clear that they’d researched the company and would love to work there. This strategy was ultimately successful, with Marie saying that this person was offered a role, with passion they showed for the company in this instance playing a big part in this.
For Lisa Pogson, showing willingness to help those around you, duelled with an ability to ask what needs to be done, are fantastic traits seen in the best employees at the company. Allan added to this, by saying that adhering to company “values” is something that is required from all team members at the company.
A memorable moment from this event was Allan’s quote of “Don’t be a cappuccino. Don’t be all froth and no substance” - highlighting the need for a desire to succeed, when working in the manufacturing industry.
Lisa Pogson pointed out that you can’t as an applicant claim to have a drive and passion for something - without actually knowing what it truly is - and therefore it’s vital to do thorough research of a company and a job role. This is not only important for your success in the application process, but also in having a career which is ultimately both enjoyable and successful.
Ken Cleal, speaking from his experience, also emphasised the importance of “doing your homework” in a job application. Ken told a story of applicants who had never had a background in manufacturing - who came and “asked more questions than I did!” - and who have since gone on to excel in their roles. This not only shows how powerful asking questions can be in an interview, but it also provides a great example of how those who work hard and have a passion to learn can thrive in this industry, despite not having a huge amount of experience within it prior.
Following on from speaking with the expert panelists, Breakout Rooms were then created through Zoom, giving the chance for employers and jobseekers alike to network.
If you missed the event or you simply want to watch back any of the content, then you can access this video on the Made in Group YouTube channel now.