For over 40 years SJG International has been manufacturing from its base in Alcester. Still a family run business, the company has grown from a gasket manufacturing company into a market leading manufacturer of rubber extrusions, gaskets and foam conversions.
As part of a programme of organised work experience and factory visits to engage local students, SJG recently hosted a factory visit for a group of year 10 students from a local High School, RSA Academy Arrowvale.
“Many of the workers on our shop floor were once students of RSA Academy Arrowvale. As well as ensuring young people locally to us are aware of who we are, what we do and the range of potential career opportunities within a company like ours, we believe it is important to give them a real insight into how a family owned SME manufacturer like us operates” comments Managing Director Robert James.
Students were given a full tour of all production-based areas of the facility, the CAD department and were also able to get hands on with products that the company manufacture.
“What we do is so varied, it can even be a challenge to keep our customers up to speed with our capabilities, let alone the younger generation locally to us” adds Marketing Manager Lucy Simpson.
“What is great about a manufacturer like us is that we design and make all our own products in the UK, exporting to countries as far afield as Mexico. For manufacturers like ourselves to stay competitive in the long term, we will undoubtedly need skilled young workers to come into the business. We are well aware of how competitive the labour market is for quite a small pool of young engineers in this region, so consistently taking the lead in promoting ourselves to students from local High Schools is kind of laying the foundations for us to be able to compete for the brightest young talent in the long term”.
SJG International are active Champions of Next Gen Makers, as well as being promoted to local students in Engineering Careers Workshops and Careers Fairs, will continue to engage and inspire young people via organised work experience and further visits in the new year.