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Sector Workforce Development Plan |
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Funding from the DfEE Skills Challenge has been invested in over £1m worth of computer equipment which will result in the availability of the very latest technology for small companies in the ceramic industry. The equipment is located in the HotHouse Design Centre creating a focal point. The fact that the Centre through its IT capability is accessible nation-wide and internationally if required, means that its facilities are available to companies everywhere. |
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ACTD is supporting a bid to create a Ceramic Resource Centre for small companies which will be linked to the HotHouse Design Centre. The Centre will be developed to provide support facilities for small companies to allow them, with the assistance of ceramic designers, to create new products using the latest design capabilities, produce rapid prototypes and have access to a showroom facility to display products all year round in a professional selling environment. In addition, the Centre will provide access to the latest IT equipment for the development of training programmes. No such centre currently exists for small companies in ceramics and will be the base for the focus of the national ceramic industry for small companies. The Centre will be dynamic and will form the base on which to implement future initiatives for small companies. It is planned that the Centre will open in May 2000. |
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ACTD with its partner organisations has been heavily engaged in the latest successful Objective 4 Bid targeted at companies in the ceramic industry called Ceramic Ambitions. The bid covers five programmes under three strands. Strand A 1. Strategic planning Strand B 1. Improvements in manufacturing processes Strand C 1. Improvement of key skills in the workplace Each of these strands is aimed at providing assistance to improve the competitiveness of companies and the under developed skills of the workforce to meet changes brought about by the latest advances in technology. All the strands involve an element of training, the bulk of which will be carried out by ACTD's partner organisations. These include the HotHouse, Staffordshire University, Stoke-on-Trent College and Ceram Research - a mixture of academic and professional bodies. |
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ACTD has, for the past five years, organised a trade show called Ceramic Showcase. This trade show is aimed at small companies in the ceramic industry and is the only event in the ceramic industry which allows extensive networking of small companies in a positive manner leading to sales. Showcase is held annually, at the same time as the NEC Spring Fair (Birmingham) and the Stoke Show, organised collaboratively by Royal Doulton, Royal Worcester/Spode and Wedgwood. Currently plans are in place to organise Showcase 2002 and further details can be obtained by contacting Keith Marsh at ACTD on 01782 597016 or by using our online contact form. |
