16
Sep 2026
17th Sep 2026
Rowan is looking ahead to National Manufacturing Day on 24 September, when manufacturers across the country will come together under a Make UK initiative designed to give schools, colleges and communities a closer look at modern industry and the careers available within it. For Rowan Precision, the two events share an important theme: giving ambitious young people a clearer view of where a career in manufacturing can take them.
It has been a busy September for UK manufacturing, as the sector is putting careers, skills and opportunity firmly in the spotlight, with Rowan Precision adding its support to two industry campaigns focused on the people who will shape the sector’s future. The Birmingham precision engineering specialist supported the Women With Metal Conference at The Eastside Rooms in Birmingham today, 17 September, with apprentice Khadija Zaman attending on behalf of the company.
The company has spent more than 30 years building its reputation as a precision engineering specialist, producing complex machined components for demanding sectors including aerospace, defence and medical. Its Birmingham facility brings together CNC sliding-head, fixed-head and multi-axis machining with a workforce whose skills have developed alongside the technology.
CFO Glenn Aston believes manufacturers have an opportunity to make that environment much more visible to the next generation.
“Manufacturing can offer a young person an incredibly exciting career,” said Aston. “You can come into a business such as Rowan, work with advanced CNC technology, develop highly valued engineering skills and build a career in industries such as aerospace, defence and medical.
“We want young people to see manufacturing as an ambitious career choice. There is a huge amount of technology, expertise and progression behind the factory doors, and campaigns that bring people closer to our industry help us tell that story.”
That ambition closely reflects the thinking behind National Manufacturing Day. Make UK says the annual event is intended to showcase the range of skilled jobs available across British manufacturing and connect employers with future talent, schools, colleges and their local communities. The organisation estimates that manufacturing supports around 2.6 million UK jobs and contributes £220 billion to GDP.
Rowan Precision’s support carries particular relevance for Head of Operations Karen Harrison-Thomas, whose own career with the company has included responsibility for quality before progressing into her current senior operational role.
“People need to be able to picture themselves in these careers,” said Harrison-Thomas. “That comes from meeting people already working in manufacturing, seeing the technology for themselves and understanding the range of opportunities available.
“There are so many different routes through an engineering business. Apprentices can develop practical and technical expertise from the beginning of their careers, while people can progress into quality, operations, engineering, commercial roles and leadership as their experience grows.
“Seeing team Rowan support National Manufacturing Day is exactly the kind of thing we want to encourage. Young people should feel that manufacturing is somewhere they can build a career, develop confidence and eventually become the people leading the industry.”
The emphasis on visibility is increasingly evident across the wider manufacturing sector. Ahead of this year’s National Manufacturing Day, Make UK has encouraged businesses to engage directly with schools and colleges, including factory visits, careers talks and practical demonstrations that allow young people to experience the industry at close quarters.
For Rowan, that work sits alongside continued investment in its people and production capabilities. Apprenticeships and skills development provide a pipeline into precision engineering, while experienced employees offer the technical knowledge needed to support customers operating in tightly controlled, high-specification industries.
Aston believes celebrating those careers is an important part of manufacturing’s continued growth.
“We are proud of what people can achieve in this industry,” he added. “Some of the most exciting technology anywhere in the economy is sitting inside manufacturing businesses, being operated and developed by highly skilled people.
“If we can open that world up to more young people, give them the chance to experience it and show them where it can lead, manufacturing has a very strong story to tell. We want engineering to be right up there when ambitious young people are thinking about their future.”
cRowan Precision sees September as an opportunity to celebrate the people already building careers in British manufacturing — and encourage the next generation to join them.