Bentley – two engineers announced in UK Government’s list of young manufacturing stars, and Bentley celebrates the 175th anniversary of Crewe
Charlotte Watling and Hannah Proffitt from Bentley Motors in Crewe have been announced as two of the thirty young rising stars of the manufacturing world by Business Minister Mark Prisk. Also, Bentley Motors is celebrating the 175th anniversary of Crewe, the Cheshire town which has been home to the luxury car manufacturer’s global headquarters since 1946, by providing £10,000 for local charitable projects nominated by its Associates.
Make it in Great Britain is a campaign that will challenge outdated perceptions and transform the image of modern manufacturing. The ‘30 Under 30’” are a selection of high flying young people who have already carved careers in the manufacturing sector and are an example to all those aspiring to do the same. They come from all walks of manufacturing life and were selected by a panel of expert judges for demonstrating passion, enthusiasm and commitment to their careers in manufacturing.
Charlotte and Hannah are typical of this select group. Both joined Bentley as apprentices and have excelled in their respective careers as electrical and mechanical engineers. They play a key role in Bentley’s product development, with Charlotte working in the Infotainment Team where she has full responsibility for media interfaces between the customer and the car, and Hannah working in the Chassis Engineering team where she is responsible for the delivery of front and rear suspension uprights.
Business Minister Mark Prisk said:
“There’s a huge range of different job opportunities in modern manufacturing, in design, in engineering and in production.
“We need more talented, enthusiastic people to fill these roles, and we hope that the 30 Under 30 will inspire the next generation to consider a career in manufacturing.”
Successful entrepreneur and Dragons’ Den Star Deborah Meaden is backing the Make it in Great Britain campaign, and is particularly supportive of the 30 under 30.
She said: “It’s important to encourage young people to see the value of manufacturing careers. The 30 under 30 will be a valuable asset to the campaign by offering a fresh perspective on what it takes to start up a business or launch new ideas.
“I look forward to working alongside them to help inspire the next generation of youngsters about a future in manufacturing.”
Bentley has a 900 strong R&D department at its site in Crewe, where all of its cars are designed, built and manufactured. The company is internationally renowned for its application of cutting edge technology alongside fine craftsmanship, and is committed to the development of young people through its apprenticeship and graduate programmes.
Charlotte and Hannah will now act as ambassadors for the Make it in Great Britain campaign, which aims to challenge outdated opinions and transform the image of modern manufacturing. They will have a special role in engaging with other young people, to ensure that the next generation is aware of the great jobs and careers in the industry.
Christine Gaskell MBE, Bentley’s Member of the Board for Personnel said:
“Bentley produces world famous cars which are exported around the world, but our success as company depends upon the skills of our staff. I am therefore delighted that not one, but two of our most promising young engineers have been recognised in this way.
“As a company we work hard to promote careers in engineering and manufacturing and bring young people into our industry. Hannah and Charlotte are fantastic ambassadors for both Bentley and the automotive manufacturing sector and I am confident they will raise the profile of our industry in their exciting new role”.
Bentley celebrates the 175th anniversary of Crewe
Bentley Motors is celebrating the 175th anniversary of Crewe, the Cheshire town which has been home to the luxury car manufacturer’s global headquarters since 1946, by providing £10,000 for local charitable projects nominated by its Associates.
July sees the 175th anniversary of the first train through the town, an event that transformed Crewe into a thriving industrial and engineering centre as well a major gateway for millions of railway passengers.
The funding will be split into three one-off grants consisting of £5,000, £3,000 and £2,000 and Bentley’s 4,000 employees will be given the opportunity to nominate a community or charity project.
Applications may include projects for care centres, hospices, sports clubs, youth clubs, voluntary associations or any other charitable organisation based in the Crewe and Nantwich area.
Christine Gaskell, Member of the Board for Personnel at Bentley Motors, explains:
“We are extremely proud to design and build Bentleys here in Crewe for our customers all over the world. As one of the biggest employers in the area we wanted to mark the celebrations in a meaningful way that involved our employees and the local community. We hope that the £10,000 we have pledged will make a real difference to projects in the Crewe and Nantwich area.”
Applications were open until 28June when they were considered by Bentley’s Charitable Appeals Committee. The three successful organisations will be announced in mid-August.
