Inspire Education Group (IEG), in partnership with The One Group, recently hosted employers, industry leaders and education professionals at University Centre Peterborough for a strategic discussion focused on the future of manufacturing and the workforce required to support continued growth across the sector.
The event, Unlocking Barriers to Growth in Manufacturing, brought together representatives from leading organisations to explore the challenges and opportunities facing manufacturers, with particular focus on skills development, recruitment, productivity and the evolving needs of industry.
Delegates heard from an expert panel featuring Kevin Doherty, Managing Director of Codem Composites; Helen Dighton, HR Director at Paragraf; Paul Gibbons, Economic Growth Champion at the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority; and Hanifeh Zarezadeh, Product and Application Manager at Photocentric Ltd.
Through a series of discussions and audience questions, panellists shared insights into the barriers currently impacting business growth, the importance of developing future talent pipelines and the role that collaboration between education and industry can play in addressing workforce challenges.
The event formed part of Inspire Education Group's ongoing commitment to working closely with employers to ensure curriculum provision remains responsive to industry needs and aligned with future workforce demands.
The event was attended by employers from across the region, alongside representatives from local government, skills organisations and education providers, creating an opportunity for meaningful dialogue around the future of manufacturing and economic growth.
By facilitating conversations between industry and education, Inspire Education Group and The One Group are helping to strengthen regional skills pipelines, support employers and ensure learners are equipped for successful careers in one of the region's most important sectors.
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