Minerals Matter brings the latest VR technology to Wainwright & Co’s Outreach Programme
When HR Director at John Wainwright & Co, Lisa Saunders realised that her company’s outreach to young people needed a boost, Minerals Matter, an initiative tasked with encouraging people into the sector, knew just who, and what, to send.
MP Futures’ Dr Dave Underhill travelled to the Somerset Earth Science Centre at the beginning of February and brought with him the MPQCs latest training tool, a mobile plant simulator.
Using the very latest in technology and featuring a virtual reality headset, the simulator enables the user to operate a number of plant equipment in a fully rendered virtual quarry, giving the user a real taste of working in our sector.
Having been shown how to set up the machine, representatives from Wainwrights, Hanson, and the Earth Science Centre were let loose on the machine to put it through its paces.
The simulator received a resounding thumbs up from all involved with all convinced that it would be a draw for young people.
“It was a long day, but worth it,” said Dr Underhill. “In fact, the number one concern from the people here was how are they possibly going to manage the numbers of youngsters who’ll want to have a go on the simulator when they see it!”
Having taken temporary delivery of the simulator, Lisa and the rest of Wainwright & Co will be showcasing it at school events across Somerset in the coming months.
Getting people interested in a career in extractives is the main aim of the Minerals Matter initiative and for good reason. In an ageing industry where the average age is 56 the need to recruit young and capable replacements has never been greater.
Faced with this existential threat to the industry, companies have rallied behind the Minerals Matter project in an effort to get the next generation excited about the sector. Lisa Saunders is an active Industry STEM Ambassador as part of the Minerals Matter project, MP Futures are proud to support John Wainwrights in their engagement activities.
If you’d like to learn how Minerals Matter could aid your business in encouraging people into the extractives industry you can go to the MP Futures website mpfutures.co.uk or contact Dave Underhill directly.
