UK Steel Enterprise is putting £12,000 into the funding pot to help the first associates in Rotherham get started on a new career path. This is being matched by REACT who will manage the scheme and provide technical back up to host companies. It is then hoped to roll out the scheme across South Yorkshire with funding from the Single Regeneration Budget and the European Regional Development Fund.

Keith Williams, Regional Manager for UK Steel Enterprise, commented, "This is an excellent scheme which will benefit both employer and employee alike. We are looking to help individuals who have an aptitude for technology but no academic record. They will be provided with a placement in a local business, training and, in many cases, a permanent job at the end of the placement. The business will also benefit by being able to take on a new employee at a subsidised cost and by having access to technical advice and training through REACT, the Regional Technology Centre."

REACT Operations Manager Geoff Armitage said, "REACT has already presented the scheme to the Rotherham Manufacturing Group and is optimistic about having their support by providing placements in their companies. This scheme has benefits all round. Students and placements will get access to state of the art technology for design, prototype development and other business-related applications. They will develop ideas through to production and will learn communication and presentation skills. For businesses it means acceleration of technology-related projects, access to a pool of trained and talented manpower and increased turnover. For the community it means new jobs."

Foundations for the scheme are being laid early with teachers in junior schools paving the way, as part of the curriculum, for school leavers to use their IT and technology skills to join the scheme.

Schools will be linked to the REACT Centre at Templeborough by means of a high speed network and video conferencing link so they can interact with professional designers and consultants skilled in the operation of design software, stereo lithography (prototype model building), tooling and business management applications. Links to other product centres will give pupils experience of a wide variety of prototype production mechanisms, design and production problems.