Pupils from Ysgol y Moelwyn, Blaenau Ffestiniog ac Ysgol Ardudwy, Harlech at the Llanbedr Aviation Centre
More than 30 pupils from Ysgol y Moelwyn and Ysgol Ardudwy have attended a youth engagement event at the Llanbedr Aviation Centre to promote the possible career opportunities available to them within the field of aviation and robotics.
The event, arranged through the EU-backed Llwyddo’n Lleol project and the Llanbedr Enterprise Zone, was an opportunity to draw attention to the importance of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM subjects) and the career path they can offer local Gwynedd pupils.
During the day pupils were given the opportunity to visit the Llanbedr Aviation Centre and Enterprise Park, and to meet with local employers within the sector.
Councillor John Wynn Jones, Gwynedd Council Cabinet Member for Economy said:
“The innovative Llwyddo’n Lleol project aims to help young people in the area to climb the career ladder and succeed within their communities. It is therefore vitally important that our young people are fully aware of the exciting career opportunities open to them here in Gwynedd.
“Events like this one are an excellent opportunity to raise awareness about the career paths available locally within the science and technology sector, and to ensure that young people are aware of the skills needed to work and succeed within such industries.”
As part of the event, the pupils heard from Mark Norris, Head of Aerospace and Defence at the Welsh Government, as well as a Show and Tell Session by Jeremy Howitt from QinetiQ who explained the unique characteristics of the site, and outlined potential opportunities for development.
The Ysgol Ardudwy, Harlech and Ysgol y Moelwyn, Blaenau Ffestiniog pupils also had the opportunity to ask questions to professionals about their experiences in the sector. These sessions included Llanbedr-based aviation company Fly Llanbedr; a discussion about career opportunities in aviation by site owners Llanbedr Airfield Estates; Emma Hodgetts from QinetiQ who discussed pathways to engineering; Kevin Titley, STEM Ambassador from Magnox; Andrew Taylor, STEM Ambassador from Wylfa and Jessica Jones, Female Engineer of the year 2012. The day was rounded-off with a presentation and quiz by Sue Wolfe from Callen Lenz / ARPAS-UK.
Llwyddo’n Lleol is an innovative £3.4 million project aimed at helping young people in North West Wales move up the career ladder and succeed within their communities. The project is funded by the European Social Fund through the Welsh Government. It aims to increase the awareness of the employment and self-employment opportunities within the growth sectors; nurturing a can-do attitude mind-set amongst young people and encouraging the area’s young generation to see self-employment and venture creation as a viable exciting career choice.
Llanbedr Aviation Centre and Enterprise Park is one of two sites designated as part of Snowdonia Enterprise Zone. Enterprise Zones are geographical areas that support business infrastructure and compelling incentives to encourage investors to locate within them and create employment.
Economy Minister Edwina Hart said:
‘I am delighted the event proved such a success and provided an opportunity to showcase Snowdonia Enterprise Zone and highlight future employment opportunities. The Llanbedr site has great potential for autonomous systems allied to the growing number of civil applications being developed as the sector continues to evolve. The Welsh Government is committed to encouraging more young people, particularly girls, into careers in science and engineering and events like this play an important role in demonstrating future career and employment opportunities available locally for our young people. STEM subjects are critical in ensuring that Wales has a workforce which is globally competitive and at the forefront of growth and innovation and I’m grateful to all those who contributed to this event’.
