News
Bright Futures Teachers Conference
At Rolton Group we are keen to establish and maintain links with education providers at all levels, as it is these institutions that teach the professionals of tomorrow and have the ability to encourage current students to develop the skills they will need to become successful in the world of work.
With skills shortages looming across many industries in the UK, bright and capable individuals have never been in greater demand.
As such, Chris Evans - Deputy Managing Director, was delighted to accept an invitation to speak at a teachers’ conference organised by the Northamptonshire Enterprise Partnership, with the specific aim of giving teachers a business-based perspective on contemporary skills and development issues.
Chris joined senior representatives from a number of industries on the panel, each of whom took the floor to discuss routes of entry to a professional career in their sector, the ways their companies can support new-starters, and the areas in which school-leavers and graduates would most benefit from developing their skills. Unanimously voiced by all speakers was the notion that, regardless of personal background, it is a person’s attitude that will differentiate them from their peers. Arriving early for interviews and conducting proper research about the company a candidate is applying to join, for example, are simple ways to make a good impression and to demonstrate the seriousness they feel about the role.
During his presentation, Chris explained to the audience that the days of engineers sitting behind drawing boards for the duration of their careers are well and truly behind us, and that in order to progress in the field an individual has to develop strong interpersonal skills.
Where possible, teachers should counter the trend for young people to interact primarily through tablets and smartphones by encouraging face-to-face communication, which remains as vital in business as it has ever been.
Next month we will be hosting an Open Doors event, during which local school groups will visit our head office to participate in a number of sessions that will offer insight into the professional life of an engineer across different disciplines, and will also explore the types of advanced technology that now play a part in intelligent design. We hope the event will inspire budding engineers to look further into the industry and the many varied career paths it offers!