Projects and the Festival of Manufacturing and Engineering
The Festival of Manufacturing and Engineering, 23rd - 27th April 2012
Since becoming Member of Parliament for Stroud in May 2010, I have been keen to highlight the success of local manufactures and engineers. To this end, I conceived the idea of running a full week's festival to celebrate existing achievements and underline the importance of manufacturing and engineering to our economic prospects. The week will start on 23 April 2012.
I have three key reasons for this. Firstly, to enhance awareness of all that happens in the Valleys and Vale; second, to showcase our area as a great place to invest in; and, thirdly, to signal to young people the excellent career prospects available in the sector. In a nutshell, I want to our area to be properly recognised a beacon for innovation and entrepreneurship.
The week will comprise of several key events including a series of awards for success, reminders of our manufacturing history, tours of factories, a 'scrap heap challenge' for schools, spotlighting investment opportunities and a focus on apprenticeships. Networking will be facilitated through receptions and presentations.
Mark Prisk MP, Minister of State at the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills, has confirmed that he will be a guest speaker and I am also inviting John Hayes, Minister for Lifelong Learning, so that we can join up the government's thinking with practical delivery.
In readiness for this festival, and in response to many revelations about difficulties for small and medium sizes businesses getting access to funds, I am ensuring that ministers are fully aware of the scale and complexity of the problem. It is clear to me that new forms of banks are required to provide the necessary expertise and understanding of the modern, innovative firm.
Neil Carmichael working with stakeholders to stage the Festival of Manufacturing and Engineering, in attendence was Renishaw, Delphi Systems, NamPak, Stroud District Council and Molly and Catherine of Gloucestershire Takeover Day. Also greatly involved is Wycliffe College and Stroud College, whose support for the festival is proving to be invaluable.
Latest News
30th January: Airbus's commitment to the Festival of Manufacture ended: http://www.neilcarmichael.co.uk/blog/2012/01/festival-airbus-commitment-to-the-festival-of-manufacturing-and-engineering/
30th January: Lloyds TSB's commitment to the Festival of Manufacturing and Engineering: http://www.neilcarmichael.co.uk/blog/2012/01/festival-lloyds-tsbs-commitment-to-the-festival-of-manufacturing-and-engineering/
30th January: Railton Consultant's commitment to the Festival of Manufacturing and Engineering: http://www.neilcarmichael.co.uk/blog/2012/01/festival-railtons-commitment-to-the-festival-of-manufacturing-and-engineering/
23rd January: Delphi's commitment to the Festival of Manufacturing and Engineering: http://www.neilcarmichael.co.uk/blog/2012/01/festival-delphis-commitment-to-the-festival-of-manufacturing-and-engineering/
23rd January: The Stroudwater Trust's commitment to the Festival of Manufacturing and Engineering: http://www.neilcarmichael.co.uk/blog/2012/01/festival-the-stroudwater-trusts-commitment-to-the-festival-of-manufacturing-and-engineering/
23rd January: STEMwork's commitment to the Festival of Manufacturing and Engineering: http://www.neilcarmichael.co.uk/blog/2012/01/festival-stemworks-commitment-to-the-festival-of-manufacturing-and-engineering/
16th January: Renishaw's commitment to the Festival of Manufacturing and Engineering: http://www.neilcarmichael.co.uk/blog/2012/01/festival-renishaws-commitment-to-the-festival-of-manufacturing-and-engineering/
9th January: Nampak's commitment to the Festival of Manufacturing and Engineering: http://www.neilcarmichael.co.uk/blog/2012/01/festival-nampaks-commitment-to-the-festival-of-maufacturing-and-engineering/
14th November: Festival: Schedule for the Festival of Manufacturing and Engineering: http://www.neilcarmichael.co.uk/blog/2011/11/festival-schedule-for-the-festival-of-manufacturing-and-engineering/
10th October: Festival of Manufacturing and Engineering: 23rd - 27th April 2012: http://www.neilcarmichael.co.uk/blog/2011/10/festival-of-manufacturing-and-engineering-23rd-27th-april-2012/
Festival of Manufacturing and Engineering
23rd - 27th April 2012
19th - 28th April
"Stroud Made It" will run , in Merrywalks and will tell the story of the products and people from businesses around the Valleys.
Sunday 22nd April
'Fantastic plastic' at the Museum in the Park - family drop-in all day - a lively 45 minute game show style performance which explores the history of plastics and what is plastic, travel back in time to meet characters connected with xylonite the very first commercial plastic and Erinoid, a Stroud based company that made plastics from milk
From Sunday 22nd April
Manufacturing & Engineering Trail at the Museum in the Park- to take families around the mansion to explore the depth of manufacturing & engineering from the Stroud District
Baughan Motorcycle and Sidecar - designed and built in Stroud, it was so successful in motorcycle trials that in 1935 the company boasted that: "It is being barred from a number of important events on the grounds that it is not possible for other machines to win."
Monday 23rd April
11.00 Past, Present and Future exhibition at Wycliffe School, Stonehouse
(an exhibition showing the past achievements of engineering in the constituency, current successes and future developments)
12.00 Opening of Festival by Rt Hon Mark Prisk MP and Neil Carmichael MP
13.00 Lunch with locally produced beer from Uley Brewery
15.00 Exhibition open to the public
Tuesday 24th April
10.30 Women in Engineering Seminar at Stroud High School, Stroud
(a discussion for senior school students about the opportunities for women in industry from current apprentices to experienced engineers)
12.00 Supporting Manufacturing in Gloucestershire
(GFirst with Employment and Skills Partnership South West)
16.00 onwards Tours of businesses within the constituency
•· Nampak
•· Dairycrest
•· Delphi
•· Lister Shearing
•· Renishaw
•· Unite Modular Solutions
•· BPI Plastics
(highlighting the plethora of products and opportunities available for investment and employment)
From Tuesday 24th April
Bite-size display on the Adjustable Spanner - invented by Edwin Budding in Stroud at the Museum in the Park
Wednesday 25th April
Energy and Renewables Day
(an examination of the opportunities available for local businesses and apprenticeships)
•· Unlocking the Nuclear Potential
•· Renewables
•· Lunch -reducing the carbon footprint and recycling - James Crick as speaker - the way forward for your business. Sponsored by BPI, Nampak and Dairycrest at Stonehouse Court Hotel
Thursday 26th April
10.00 Investor Conference in the George Room, Subscription Rooms, Stroud
(looking at alternative investment strategies)
10.00 - 16.00 Liz Lippiatt, a Trustee of the Stroudwater Textile Trust, is opening her design and printing studio to the public on Thursday 26 April and Friday 27.
14.00 Schools K'nex Scrap Heap Challenge at Rednock School, Dursley
19.00 Supply Chain Reception sponsored by Delphi at Egypt Mill
Friday 27th April
'Inspired by Manufacturing' - an opportunity for young people
Hosted by Stroud College
Saturday 28th April
Stonehouse Community Day
Opening of Businesses in Stonehouse
•· Renishaw
•· Delphi
10.00 - 12.00The Weaving Shed in Gigg Mill will be open for live demonstrations of weaving machinery.
14.00 - 16.00 Dunkirk Mill will be open to see the waterwheel and textile machinery. There is a small charge for each.
If you would like to get in contact with me about the Festival of Manufacturing and Engineering, please contact Debbie Young on 01453 751572.
Contact Neil
01453 751572
38-39 Palace Chambers
London Road
Stroud
Gloucestershire GL5 2AJ