BOSSES at a Steeton company have spoken of their pride at helping to launch this year’s version of a hugely successful annual initiative designed to inspire young people into manufacturing careers.

Acorn Stairlifts produced a special video which featured in a virtual launch event for the Bradford Manufacturing Weeks.

The footage gave a behind-the-scenes look at the company’s factory and introduced some key members of the 350-strong workforce.

Manufacturing manager Andrew Longthorne created the video.

It spotlighted some of the manufacturing processes at the world-leading firm – which produces around 70,000 stairlifts a year, two-thirds of them for global export.

Founded in 1992, Acorn Stairlifts has its UK head office on Steeton’s Millennium Business Park – alongside the factory – but it has operations throughout Europe, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Canada and North America.

“That’s why we’re so passionate about manufacturing and keen to be involved with Bradford Manufacturing Weeks and other events which promote British manufacturing and inspire the next generation of engineering talent,” said Mr Longthorne.

The Manufacturing Weeks initiative – which is organised by Bradford Chamber of Commerce – brings together manufacturers, schools and young people themselves.

Normally activities would include factory tours, work placements, seminars, exhibitions and learning events at a number of the participating companies’ premises.

But this year, due to the restrictions in place to prevent the spread of Covid-19, the venture has taken on a very different appearance.

Activities are taking place entirely online, with more than 40 manufacturer events spread across the ten days of the project – which runs until Friday (Oct 16).

They include‘webinars’ , virtual factory tours, online presentations and question-and-answer sessions.

Plus there are Manufacturers Live and Apprentices Live events.

All the activities are aimed at giving young people a taste of what it’s like to work in the manufacturing sector, together with information about job and training opportunities and how to get their careers started.

Further information about Bradford Manufacturing Weeks can be found at bradfordmanufacturingweek.co.uk.

To watch the Acorn Stairlifts video, go to youtube.com/watch?v=L3Qqg-ZAEAU&feature=youtu.be.