To mark the upcoming launch of its ‘Engineers of the Future Academy’, Dewsbury’s Rixonway Kitchens is inviting Yorkshire schools and colleges along to its manufacturing facility to view the production equipment and environmentally responsible systems in action.

With Britain’s manufacturing industry growing unexpectedly in October at the fastest rate in two years, the scheme intends to promote the opportunities in manufacturing and forge relationships with potential engineers and designers of the future.

The first visitors to the site, on Shaw Cross Business Park, were 14 ‘A’ Level Design Technology students from Hornsea School in Hull, who experienced Rixonway’s entire production process, from the arrival of raw materials to the shipping out of finished products.

With continuing system upgrades and refinements, Rixonway’s manufacturing facility and warehousing space has more than doubled in size during its ten-year lifetime.

Hornsea School teacher, Jim Calloway said: “The fact that Rixonway is launching this academy and providing hands-on guidance for students about to embark on their careers is incredibly important for the manufacturing industry. Other organisations should take note.

“Of particular interest were the many clever ‘Green’ carbon reduction processes and checks the company has incorporated into its operations.”

The ‘Engineers of the Future Academy’ is an apprenticeship scheme that will see outstanding school or college leavers start a training programme every year. It will offer relevant skills to equip them for a long-term future at one of the most well established manufacturing organisations.

Nick Greenall at Rixonway Kitchens, said: “Our Academy will provide candidates with practical education and experience in a selection of manufacturing fields, thus presenting them with career options. With our ongoing, defined training and development programmes, we will remain at the leading edge of technologies. It is a genuine opportunity for people to go as far and as fast as their abilities and ambitions allow.”

The development of Rixonway’s Academy is in line with the company’s philosophy that its 450 staff are its most important asset and a resource which must be continually invested in and cultivated for best performance. With this in mind, employee development and job-satisfaction are key elements of life at Rixonway and it is common for staff to stay for long periods - with some employed for 30 years. Recently, it was commended by The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) for its unique industry-leading approach to disability and employability.