KEIGHLEY-Made, the town’s new ‘voice of business’, plans to get more teenagers into manufacturing.

The group will encourage young people to seek jobs with Keighley’s world-beating companies rather than going out of town.

Keighley-Made member companies will work with schools and colleges to spruce up students’ skills in interviews, CV writing and dressing correctly.

And the company’s apprentices could form their own group to help young people influence decisions affecting Keighley and the district’s economy.

News of the ‘youth engagement’ plan comes as Keighley-Made prepares for its official launch on September 6.

Keighley-Made is the brainchild of Paul Moore, director of leading local company Powerrun, who realised the town’s manufacturing companies together employed more than 4,400 people. He wanted to bring firms together to champion the town, share best practice and influence economic policy.

Mr Moore said Keighley-Made members such as Gesipa and Fibreline were keen to work closely with schools and colleges to nurture the workforce of the future.

He said: “One or two Keighley companies already do this on their own, and we recently visited Holy Family to help with CV content and mock interviews. It was really appreciated, and afterwards we had half a dozen pupils look round our works. One lad came on work experience and has come back in his holidays because he so keen.”

Keighley Made would liaise between businesses and schools for an annual programme of visits, talks and workshops. Email paul@powerrun.co.uk to join Keighley-Made.