01 Feb 2007
The "challenge generation" of young people in Barrow is to become the primary focus for corporate responsibility activity by Submarines following a survey carried out among the local community.
Conducted in conjunction with the local liaison group, drawn from the council and other key organisations within the town, the survey canvassed attitudes and opinions on a wide range of issues, including the past and future role of BAE Systems in Barrow.
Communications manager Chris Nelson said: “Submarines is involved in an enormous amount of activity within the local community, from small projects for local schools to involvement in, or support for, a wide range of local improvement initiatives. “The local liaison group was formed to co-ordinate that effort and focus it on the things the community itself most wanted us to support.” In addition to council representatives, the group includes members from regeneration, job creation, education, religious and community groups.
The survey sought a comprehensive view of local priorities. Chris said: “The general consensus was that with the local jobs market having declined in recent years, and a general lack of support and opportunity for young people, this is where our activities should be concentrated.”
Within weeks of the ‘challenge generation’ focus being agreed, the business was putting its new priority into practice by supporting a Women in Engineering day at Bar row Sixth Form College for female secondary school pupils. Students, aged 13 and 14,were given the chance to build a battery powered buggy, a ferris wheel, a ping-pong ball gun, a rollercoaster, a paper plane and a space frame tower.
They were helped by 14 engineering ambassadors, mainly apprentices and graduates from Submarines. Frank Southall, head of design and technology at one of the participating schools, said: “The apprentices were all really young but they handled it really well. They prompted, supported and helped the girls without taking over or telling them what to do.”
