Member Article

Chemical manufacturing firm hosts students for district's first manufacturing week

Students from schools across the district will be experiencing the world of specialty chemical manufacturing first-hand as part of the inaugural Bradford Manufacturing Week 2018.

Airedale Chemical, based in Cross Hills, has invited students from Bradford’s One in a Million free school, Keighley’s Holy Family Catholic School and Parkside School in Cullingworth as part of the West and North Yorkshire Chamber initiative, created to connect schools with the Bradford district’s diverse manufacturing industry. Students will have the opportunity to tour the chemical manufacturing site and technical laboratory as well as meeting teams in the marketing, accounts, transport and health and safety departments.

Managing director of the family-owned firm, Chris Chadwick, said: “We are really looking forward to taking part in Bradford Manufacturing Week and welcoming local students. Our aim is to give them a holistic view of everything it takes to run a manufacturing business whether that’s route planning a customer’s order or performing quality checks on the product itself.

“We’ve incorporated hands-on activities throughout the week and hope to inspire a younger generation into studying STEM subjects or taking on apprenticeships in the manufacturing industry.” Bradford Manufacturing Week (8 – 12 October 2018) is a not-for-profit event created to inspire and educate young people around the opportunities within manufacturing.

Joanne Hainsworth, head of Aspire Enterprises, part of the Aspire-igen Group which is the careers specialist helping to co-ordinate the initiative, said: “We have matched schools with manufacturers so that everyone gets the most of out of the experience. We’re delighted to have Airedale Chemical on board to showcase the chemical manufacturing opportunities available to young people across the district – there’s no doubt students from One in a Million, Holy Family Catholic School and Parkside School will end the week feeling inspired!”

As part of its corporate social responsibility arm, the Airedale Foundation, Airedale Chemical has an ongoing partnership with local primary school Sutton in Craven Primary School, to inspire young students to consider STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) subjects and careers.

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