A conversation in 2010 between HRH The Prince of Wales and Bolton, at the time director, Tata Steel Long Products, started the Industrial Cadets, an initiative to improve the workplace experiences of young people, helping inspire and inform them about their local industries.
Industrial Cadets has since developed into a national accreditation for work experiences, emphasising skills development and knowledge of career opportunities. It is growing, with recent support from government, and leadership from the UK’s top manufacturing and engineering companies.
Industrial Cadets started in 2011 as a workplace experience programme run by Tata Steel in the North East of England and developed into an employer led initiative in 2013, under the management of education charity, EDT (the Engineering Development Trust). In 2014 the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills announced funding for the further development of Industrial Cadets. There are now more than 3500 Industrial Cadets, drawn from over 1000 schools. More than 200 companies have run Industrial Cadet accredited programmes and over 400 employees have been trained as mentors.
Over 95% of Cadets claim to identify an improvement in their work relevant skills such as team work, critical thinking, communication and organisation and planning. Also, 70% of the Cadets taking part feel they are more likely to go into industry as a result of being an Industrial Cadet.
“It is a privilege to have been part of the development of an initiative which is so important for the future of UK industry,” said Bolton. “Industrial Cadets allows young people to see the industries in their local area, understand the careers that they offer, and it takes the first steps in providing employability skills which will equip them for those careers.”
