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Networking event Discover Axminster is well attended

                       Wally Wilson explains the finer points of a Veritas plane                                   Robert Ingham gathers a crowd                                 

Billed as the first education expo of its kind from Axminster Tools & Machinery, the company’s Business Services Team recently organised their first Discover Axminster networking event at Bridgwater College.

The event aimed at lecturers, technicians, students and business contacts attracted representatives from a number of colleges including Exeter, Bath & City, Axe Valley, Plymouth, South Gloucester & Stroud, Weston and Bridgwater plus apprentices from Pendennis Shipyard in Falmouth.

Steve Hopper, Programme Manager for Furniture at Bridgwater College said: “We have a great range of demonstrators here using the usual high quality kit that Axminster supply. The level of detail of information from the exhibitors is excellent and we are particularly pleased to welcome Robert Ingham who is such a well respected figure in the furniture making world.”

The day unfolded with a series of talks and demonstrations from well known names such as Bosch, Festool, 3M, Numatic and Wally Wilson from Canadian company Lee Valley who focused on the Veritas brand. Visitors were able to get hands-on with many of the tools and equipment being demonstrated. Robert Ingham, revered designer and maker of furniture and boxes, drew quite a crowd throughout the day with students and apprentices gathering round as Robert showed samples of his craftsmanship and explained certain techniques.

One lecture of particular interest to the industry came from Matt Lear of the Design & Technology Association. Matt talked about how D&T is currently facing many challenges in both primary and secondary school education. Among the difficulties are teacher recruitment, decreasing curriculum time, decreasing GCSE entries and access to professional development. The concern is that unless these issues are addressed now, D&T will be marginalised. Matt encouraged anyone wishing to support the campaign for the preservation of and more funding for D&T in schools to sign a petition which will be presented to the Secretary of State for Education, Nicky Morgan. More information about this can be found on the D&T website.

The Axminster Business Services team will be organising more events of this type at other colleges in the future. Anyone wishing to contact the team should email [email protected] or call 03332 406406.