Ambassadors named for Industrial Cadet scheme

SIX industry leaders from companies including GSK and AkzoNobel have been appointed by HRH The Prince of Wales as ambassadors for an initiative set up to give young people work experience within industry.

The new ambassadors of the Industrial Cadets scheme include leaders from Airbus, AkzoNobel, GSK, Liberty Group, Rolls-Royce, and Unipart. They will champion the use of accredited work experiences within their own companies for young people aged 11-19. They are also expected to promote the Industrial Cadet scheme to other companies and support efforts to promote the opportunities of working in local industry.

The initiative was set up after HRH The Prince of Wales visited Tata Steel in northeast England in 2010. It was highlighted that young people were often not choosing careers in local industry because they had a lack of exposure to the sector. Industrial Cadets was set up to provide a nationally-recognised standard for workplace experiences in industry and has since seen 3,500 students from 1,000 schools attend schemes at some 200 accredited firms. Of those that attended work experiences in 2014/15, 70% said they are now more likely to seek work in industry.

“It is a privilege to have been part of the development of an initiative which is so important for the future of UK industry,” said Jon Bolton, CEO of Liberty Group’s UK Plates Division. “Industrial Cadets allows young people to see inside the industries in their local area. It helps them understand the careers that they offer, and it takes the first steps in providing the skills that employers are looking for which will equip them for those careers. From a first conversation with HRH The Prince of Wales five years ago an organisation of substance and great value has emerged which is growing quickly to make an important contribution to UK skills.”

The other five ambassadors are Paul Kahn, president of Airbus Group UK; Matt Pullen, managing director UK of AkzoNobel; Sir Andrew Witty, CEO of GSK; Carol Burke, managing director of Unipart; and Colin Smith, group president of Rolls-Royce.