How creativity can benefit a career in manufacturing

On Friday 10th November Mrs Jo Cloute, our HR and Customer Aftercare Manager and Stephen Cloute Quality and Health & Safety Manager participated in an event for art students at Hastings College to give them the opportunity to learn about how creative skills can lead to a career in manufacturing.
Volunteer Enterprise Adviser and Industry Champion, Mrs Cloute said: “I had a wonderful time giving a presentation at the Hastings College today with Stephen in the art department, linking creative minds to the Manufacturing Industry. It is great to give exposure of the different possibilities, how creative fields are able to start their career and how the arts can benefit the Manufacturing Industry. The juxtaposition of creatives and Manufacturing provides a new outlook on the future generation of production, providing options previously not thought of. Thank you to the Hastings College for this opportunity.”
Stephen’s story, which he hopes will inspire others to consider a career in manufacturing, saw him begin at Sussex Coast College Hastings where he achieved A-levels in fine art, photography, and graphics. He then studied at the University of Brighton, completing a Bachelor’s degree in contemporary fine art. This involved putting on art exhibitions in the local community in Hastings. Upon completing his degree, he joined Focus SB as a temp in August of 2017. A background in art gave Stephen a creative outlook on the traditional engineering processes and systems used here at Focus SB which allowed him to strive for continual improvement for both himself, the company and the team he is a part of.
Gary Stevens MD, who began his career as a technical apprentice at age 16, commented: "Here at Focus SB we are passionate about developing young people into the future talent that will be required to take this business forward. Stephen is a shining example of how Focus SB’s graduate training programme can take someone with no prior manufacturing knowledge, and where the right training and mentoring have developed his skills for a lead role in the Quality and Health & Safety functions with us.”
Visit our blog to read some of our apprenticeship success stories.
“Industry Champions are volunteers from any industry sector and any level. They come into a local school or college in East Sussex to support young people as they prepare for the world of work.” Read more about how to become an Industry Champion at Careers East Sussex.