ATTEMPTS are being made to lure workers into the manufacturing industry.

Precision sensor manufacturer Micro-Epsilon (UK) Ltd, with a base in Ellesmere Port, is supporting the Manufacturing Institute’s 'Make It in Manufacturing' campaign to help attract more young people in the north west into manufacturing careers.

Recently expanded with funding from the North West Development Agency and the European Regional Development Fund, 'Make It in Manufacturing' was set up to attract the best new talents into manufacturing, promoting manufacturing as an exciting and rewarding career.

The campaign is trying to shake off the negative perceptions that surround the manufacturing sector and to demonstrate to tomorrow’s workforce and potential investors just how much modern industry has to offer. The campaign now includes radio adverts featuring positive role models from the sector.

Micro-Epsilon managing director, Chris Jones, one of the role models featured in the advertisements on Radio City, said: “The UK is suffering from a lack of youngsters wanting to move into manufacturing after leaving school or college. In the past, manufacturing firms have been poor in communicating to young people exactly what manufacturing as a career is all about and the opportunities it can offer.”

“There are now great opportunities for young people going into manufacturing in the UK. Not all manufacturing is going overseas to lower labour cost countries. In fact a lot is now coming back to these shores. The UK still has many world leading companies that thrive on innovation and knowledge. What we need to do is bring together educational establishments, local media, training providers and employers, in order to work more closely through joined up thinking and communication.”