Industry and education join forces at St James’s Palace
In April BOC hosted the Industry and Education Partnership Forum at St James’s Palace in the presence of HRH, The Duke of Kent. This brought together leading industrialists and educationalists to help foster and discuss links between the two sectors.
Under the title, the Industry and Education Partnership Forum: How can we support each other’s needs – a plan for the future? The event attracted nearly 200 people, including leading businessmen, head teachers, lecturers, politicians and representatives from many government departments and non-government organisations focused on UK education, skills and training.
In the words of the event’s host and sponsor, BOC director Gordon Brown: “This event was all about supporting the objectives of the Science, Engineering, Technology and Maths Network (SETNET) and all those organisations dedicated to promoting and utilising the education, training and skills of young people and the UK’s workforce”.
“Without the right mix and emphasis on education at all levels – secondary, tertiary and occupational – the UK will not harness and sustain the talents it so needs to maintain competitiveness on the world stage”.
“Building relationships between people in industry and education is one of the main ways to maintain and strengthen the talent pool that we have in the UK today and I believe this event was a great example of how we can all play a part in supporting this principle. Indeed much good work is already being done between industry, schools colleges, universities, NGOs and communities, but the forum gave us all an additional opportunity to share ideas and map some ways we can help to ensure partnerships thrive and educationalists understand better the needs of UK industry”.
“The event was a great success and we will be producing a paper summarising the many excellent ideas and comments raised. From this we hope to further strengthen relationships between industry and education, highlighting the role education has in sustaining the UK’s manufacturing and process industries’ competitiveness”.
Gordon Brown opened the event together with SETNET’s CEO, Yvonne Baker, who spoke passionately about the need to coordinate efforts and continue exchanging ideas for mutual benefit. In addition, Gordon Cockburn of Surrey SETPOINT spoke about the good work being done by companies like BOC with local SETNET contacts, sharing some of his experiences and adding a very personal touch to proceedings.
Jonathan Mackey, Head of Sponsorship and SSC Policy at the DfES, gave a government view and challenged attendees to consider World Skills, a ‘skills Olympics’ that the UK is hoping to host in 2011.
A BOC team also demonstrated their breadth of activities and the fun that can be had from engaging schools and colleges and performing live displays.
BOC also led a panel discussion made up of a cross section of panellists which included Professor Julia King (Imperial College), Jonathan Mackey (DFES), Yvonne Barker (SETNET), Dr Tony Birch, (BASF), Teresa Leech (Head teacher, Blenheim High School, Surrey) and Dr John Guy (Principal, The Sixth Form College, Farnborough). The Forum concluded with observations from HRH the Duke of Kent.
In the words of one head teacher after the event: “When I’m rushing around so I hardly have time to eat, I think of the delightful meal I had in such good company. And when I see my students around school, I’ll think of all the great people I met who are keen to make sure they [my students] have a bright future. Thanks so much for such a helpful event.”
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