Manufacturing remains an important part of the UK economy. Plymouth has, once again, maintained its title as the English southern city with the highest concentration of its workforce employed in manufacturing.
At approx 14 per cent, it is well ahead of its nearest rivals Luton and Portsmouth.
That’s roughly 15,000 jobs created by the local manufacturers.
Gross Value Added (GVA) from manufacturing in Plymouth represents 17.5% of the total Plymouth economy. Source – ONS
If you are wondering what the definition of GVA is: ‘it’s a measure of the value of the goods and services produced in an area or sector of the economy. It is primarily used to monitor the performance of the national (and regional) economy and is now the preferred method by many to measure the overall economic well-being of an area’.
Together, PMG Members recruit hundreds of apprentices and graduates every year. Alongside our PMG Apprentice of the Year award, the PMG also holds a yearly Early Careers Fair in partnership with Building Plymouth. This event is a popular fixture on the careers fair calendar and has lead to many young people finding future employment with the fair’s exhibitors.
In 2016, the PMG embarked on its “Schools Challenge” programme, matching local schools with its members. The main premise was to dispel the myths surrounding the manufacturing sector and promote the fulfilling career paths available. By offering teachers a week’s work experience in the company, the manufacturers were able to present the industry to those who could have a direct impact on the perceptions and aspirations of young people. Partnerships blossomed and members went on to offer work experience to the school’s students, factory tours, sponsorship of GreenPower Car Schemes and achievement and more.
As a result of our consultation with careers advisors and teachers throughout this programme, in 2020 the PMG decided to launch a young people focussed web-project called “PlymouthMakes.co.uk”. This initiative aims to showcase and celebrate local manufacturers in an engaging and memorable way to young people, families, teachers and careers advisors and create awareness of the industry, and the career opportunities within it alongside aspirational pride in the city. Complete with an interactive map, company profiles, quirky facts and a growing number of learning resources, quizzes, recruitment news and careers stories, you can explore PlymouthMakes.co.uk here.
