A BUSINESS park is to host an event highlighting to school pupils the opportunities that exist for careers in eco friendly technologies.

Lingfield Point in Darlington, which owner Marchday has developed sustainably by regenerating buildings and space at the former Patons and Baldwins wool factory site in Darlington, is to host Foundation for Jobs Low Carbon Engineering Event for Darlington schools on Thursday October 9.

The event, now in its third year uses practical tasks delivered by engineering companies and organisations working in the sector, to address pupils’ often outdated perceptions that it is a dirty, low-tech industry.

In July South West Durham Training’s (SWDT) Manufacturing in the North-East conference at Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, heard that skills shortages are a major concern for the North-East’s engineering and manufacturers,

The event is aimed at Year Nine students who are set to pick their GCSE options this year and encourages them to look to a good balance of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Manufacturing) subjects which could facilitate their entry into the engineering sector.

A Foundation for Jobs spokesman said: “Given its green credentials it is appropriate that we will once again be at Lingfield Point as the event is demonstrating to young people the opportunities that exist for them in an industry sector which has led the way in developing low carbon technologies.

“The Low Carbon Engineering Event is one of our most popular events of the year, involving scores of pupils from secondary schools across Darlington borough.”

“We are very grateful to Marchday director John Orchard and his colleagues for once again offering to host us, they have demonstrated constant support for what we are trying to achieve ever since Foundation for Jobs started – in fact given that Foundation for Jobs was officially launched at Lingfield Point you could say we are coming home.”

Foundation for Jobs the national award winning partnership between The Northern Echo, Darlington Borough Council and the Darlington Partnership to tackle youth unemployment has worked with more than 3,000 young people in Darlington since its launch in 2012.

It has been proven that young people who have contact with industry while at school are up to five times less likely to be unemployed at the age of 25.

Engineering is facing skills gaps with about 8,500 skilled workers due to retire from engineering and manufacturing roles in the region by 2016, but not enough young people coming forward to fill those gaps.

At last year’s event pupils were able to carry out Computer Aided Design with Cummins Engines, wire mini wind turbines with SWDT, examine electric cars with the Gateshead College run Skills Academy for Sustainable Manufacturing and Innovation (SASMI) and Tees Valley based Peugeot dealership Simon Bailes, make a solar powered car with the Engineering Development Trust (EDT) and take part in an exercise to develop engineering skills with RTC North which runs the STEM Ambassador programme in the North-East.

Any companies which would like to be involved in this year’s event should contact Foundation for Jobs co-ordinator Owen McAteer at owen.mcateer@darlington.gov.uk