Make UK, the manufacturers’ organisation, has partnered with Next Gen Makers in order to help manufacturers attract and inspire more young engineers.

Make UK (www.makeuk.org) will be the headline sponsor in the Birmingham region of the Next Gen Makers ‘Engineering Careers Prospectus 2020’, which aims to provide a comprehensive resource of engineering careers information for High School and sixth-form students from year 10 onwards.

In addition to including information promoting the benefits of engineering apprenticeships, career pathways and places to continue to study or train in engineering, the Prospectus 2020 will profile a variety of local manufacturing and engineering firms, raising awareness of the types of company that make up ‘the rich industrial supply chains within the region’.

Stephen Mitchell, director of Apprentices and Technical Training at Make UK, said: “We are delighted to be part of the Next Gen Makers prospectus; our role across the manufacturing sector is to help raise the profile of the diverse range of careers available and highlight that this is a vibrant and interesting sector.

“Being part of this prospectus gives us the springboard to achieve our role; and working in partnership with like-minded organisations, we are encouraging our members in the region to also be part of this fantastic resource.”

Set to launch in March as an online resource supported by a printed counterpart, the Next Gen Makers Engineering Careers Prospectus 2020 covers six regions: Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall/Cannock, Wolverhampton, Redditch/Bromsgrove and Birmingham.

Next Gen Makers director Adam Tipper said: “Every year in the West Midlands, we are around 20,000 young engineers short.

“By engaging with the Prospectus, manufacturers for whom Make UK recruits apprentices can benefit from stronger employer brand awareness among young people locally to them, inspire more young people to pursue a career in the sector, and hopefully contribute to boosting apprenticeship applications.”