News & Resources

Chris Huhne visits Ford Southampton for government’s See Inside Manufacturing initiative

6 Jul 2011

Ford is supporting a government initiative, using its automotive facilities to immerse students in the latest advances in engineering and manufacturing.

The Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) is promoting the initiative, calling on future British talent of tomorrow to get behind the scenes of some of the UK’s world-class automotive facilities to learn about modern manufacturing and the range of rewarding jobs available in the sector.

Secretary of State Chris Huhne MP was at Ford’s Southampton plant as Ford employees hosted over 30 students from three local schools.

Chris Huhne said: “Ford has played a crucial part in UK manufacturing over the last 100 years and I am very pleased with the support they are providing for the new See Inside Manufacturing initiative. The UK has a promising future in manufacturing with the Government investing in more apprenticeships than ever before. Together with industry experts like Ford, we must inspire more young people to see manufacturing and engineering as a viable and exciting career choice.”

Ford Southampton, which produces the iconic Ford Transit, welcomed students from local schools – Oak Lodge School, Crestwood College of Business and Enterprise and Scholing Technical College – to a tour of the manufacturing line and encouraged them to take part in a ‘competitive’ teamwork exercise on Ford’s production line simulator.  This enabled the students to feel what it’s like to work in a modern production plant.

Thomas Fischer, Southampton plant manager, said: “We were delighted to welcome Chris Huhne to Ford Southampton this week to meet students from local schools, as part of Ford’s involvement with the Department for Business’ See Inside Manufacturing scheme.  This is business as usual for Ford Southampton as we are already heavily involved with local community projects, inviting students to experience our modern technology and manufacturing techniques that helps ensure Ford’s market leading presence in the UK.”

For more information on the initiative, visit the Automotive Council website.

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