UK jukebox manufacturer Sound Leisure has joined forces with The Ahead Partnership to promote manufacturing careers in schools.
Sound Leisure managing director Chris Black, and his wife Catherine, have formed a partnership with lottery funded organisation The Ahead Partnership in an effort to teach students about the merits of manufacturing as a career.
“We were astounded that students were still designing and making the same plastic key rings that we made 30 years ago,” Black said. “This is despite the many fantastic new technologies that are now available, including 3D printers, CNC machines (manufacturing tools powered by computers) and more computer power than we could have dreamt of.”
Sound Leisure designs and manufactures its jukeboxes using a variety of design techniques, such as vac-forming plastic components, hand-crafting wood and metalwork and incorporating digital music technology.
“Many students were being pushed towards university, no matter what their academic skills and with little consideration as to whether the degree they achieved would be of any use to them when they left,” Black added. “However, over the past four to five years we have witnessed a seismic shift by the policy makers, with much more emphasis being placed on apprenticeships.”
