Michelin opens doors to pupils

Michelin recently opened the doors of its Ballymena production plant to students as part of an initiative to encourage young people to consider careers in manufacturing.
Pupils from St. Patrick's College and Cambridge House School, pictured along with Cllr. Monica Digney, Cllr. Martin Clarke, Cllr. Timothy Gaston, Robin Swann MLA and Jim Briggs (Workforce Development Manager) at a Michelin Career in Manufacturing Day. INBT44-207ACPupils from St. Patrick's College and Cambridge House School, pictured along with Cllr. Monica Digney, Cllr. Martin Clarke, Cllr. Timothy Gaston, Robin Swann MLA and Jim Briggs (Workforce Development Manager) at a Michelin Career in Manufacturing Day. INBT44-207AC
Pupils from St. Patrick's College and Cambridge House School, pictured along with Cllr. Monica Digney, Cllr. Martin Clarke, Cllr. Timothy Gaston, Robin Swann MLA and Jim Briggs (Workforce Development Manager) at a Michelin Career in Manufacturing Day. INBT44-207AC

The factory, which employs about 1,000 staff and produces bus and truck tyres, offered students a behind-the-scenes look at the manufacturing process.

Visitors were able to speak to Michelin engineers and experts on the shop floor about what is involved in the tyre-making process, before taking part in interactive tasks.

Pupils from 11 Ballymena and Antrim schools and colleges took part in tours of the site over two days, as well as competing to design an innovative product which will be judged and assessed by Michelin.

The winning entry will receive a cheque from the company to go towards school funds.

The event forms part of a government drive, backed by Business Secretary Vince Cable, which encourages school children to visit factories across the UK. The initiative, which was launched in 2011 by the UK Automotive Council, with the support of the Department for Business Innovation and Skills, is called ‘See Inside Manufacturing’ and aims to help create an additional 250,000 apprenticeships in the UK.

John Milsted, Factory Manager at Michelin, said: “If Northern Ireland is to thrive, it needs to promote jobs in the manufacturing sector.”