North East manufacturing boss champions new diploma

The owner of a company which manufactures heavy building materials in the North East has declared his support for a new qualification which prepares teenagers for the world of work.

Paul Allison, managing director of the Sherburn Group, has signed up as an employer champion for the Diploma in Manufacturing and Product Design (MPD), which launched in schools and colleges across England in September. One of the government’s new qualifications for 14 to 19 year olds, the Diploma in MPD has been developed to equip young people with the skills and knowledge needed to pursue a career in industry, and is taught from a curriculum designed in partnership with manufacturing and product design employers.

As an employer champion, Allison is tasked with raising awareness of the qualification and encouraging more companies to become involved in its delivery.

Allison, a former steeplejack and explosives engineer says: “The more I have learned about the Diploma in Manufacturing and Product Design, the more I firmly believe it is filling a gap that exists in the education system,” said Allison. “This diploma will provide great opportunities for young people to succeed, particularly in areas like the North East where manufacturing is a key industry. This qualification is going to appeal to a wide range of students because of its mix of classroom-based and work-environment teaching. It will keep young people engaged and enthusiastic about their learning.”

The diploma sits alongside traditional academic qualifications, with students dividing their time between classroom, college, and real work environments. It is being delivered by consortia, or approved partnerships of local schools, colleges and employers. Employer involvement in delivery can vary from providing work experience or hosting site visits, to keeping teachers up-to-date with sector developments and setting project topics based on real-life manufacturing scenarios.

Allison says: “I believe it’s vital that young people have the opportunity to experience a real work environment before they leave school and meet people who are actually making a success of their career. It will give them a clearer vision of where they want to take their own careers. Students will also have the chance to witness theory being put into practice in the workplace and to apply the knowledge that they have gained in the classroom.”

Allison grew up in Durham and has been a director of the Sherburn Group for the past 15 years. The company manufactures and distributes heavy building materials like concrete, asphalt, aggregates, cement and sand, and carries out road surfacing works and operates inert waste disposal and recycling sites. It employs 130 people at 11 sites spread across the North East of England and has been involved in working with local schools for a number of years.

As well as offering work placements, Sherburn Group employees have acted as business ambassadors, speaking to pupils about career choices and the manufacturing industry. Currently, the company is involved in a pilot scheme with a local secondary school which aims to strengthen the relationship between business and education. Pupils are introduced to the workplace and learn what is required of them as employees, in terms of commitment, dedication, skills and knowledge.

A member of the County Durham Employment and Skills Group and chairman of Rural Employability Durham Employability Steering Group, Allison believes the diploma in MPD will be a great vehicle for building links between the workforce of tomorrow and business.

He says: “I am giving the diploma in MPD my full backing. I have been involved in developing the qualification for the north-east and I am looking forward to being involved in its delivery. Companies should be excited by the opportunity to engage with students and having the chance to show them first-hand what manufacturing has to offer.”

For more information, visit the website for the Diploma in Manufacturing and Product Design, at http://www.manufacturingdiploma.co.uk/