Huron, partner of the next EuroSkills

From 4 to 6 October 2012, the Spa-Francorchamps race track will be hosting the third edition of EuroSkills. This European competition open to all trades is part of an attempt to promote manual work and technical or technological sectors of employment.

In all, almost 430 entrants aged under 26 from 24 countries will compete against each other for three days before a large crowd, with just one purpose in mind – to be the best in their profession and raise their country’s colours above the top step of the winners’ podium. All sectors of the economy will be represented, from industry to services, from food to automobiles, and from building and allied trades to agriculture.

For the third year of the competition, Huron will, for the first time, be the official supplier of milling trades with four VX6 machines being made available by the company. The VX range constitutes the very best of machinery for milling, drilling, boring and threading in the manufacture of tools and in small and medium production runs.

“We are proud and honoured to be the official supplier of the milling category. In the past, Huron has maintained close ties with the teaching and education sector so we had no hesitation in agreeing when the organisers contacted Huron,” said Dominique Lutz, the company’s Sales Director. This year, a dozen entrants will compete in the NC milling category. They will be asked to produce a complex piece in the shortest possible time, before a crowd of specialists.

EuroSkills, though, is much more than an inter-trade competition.Although the competition is open to all on condition that they are under 26 years of age, it also turns the spotlight on sandwich courses and apprenticeships. “We place great importance on support and encouragement for young people who have completed sandwich courses or apprenticeships. At present, we have a dozen apprentices at Huron and we will be taking on another three in the autumn,” said Bernard Echevard, Managing Director of Huron Graffenstaden. “We should remember that today’s young people are the engineers and managers of the future. France needs skills and it must maintain its level of expertise. To do this, we have to hand it on, keep it alive and introduce changes through innovation and the intelligence of young people. Our doors are wide open and we have played an active role in Industry Week and the “Parcours Filières” (Training for Industry) organised during the Industry Exhibition in Paris to promote jobs in mechanical engineering.”

It is said that Industry is seen as something of a second-class citizen in France and it is true that mechanical engineering is not part of France’s “Luxury and Prestige” sector. There is no doubt that it is easier to identify with a sports champion or clothing brand, but France has a reputation for quality and accuracy in the workplace and the fact that young people are flocking in droves to the industrial sector is not a matter of chance.

Engineering colleges have a particularly high set of standards and are constantly expanding their curricula to include new subjects. Just listen to what Jean-René has to say after a year working for Huron and completing a sandwich course: “Several companies responded positively to my request for a contract that included provision for a sandwich course. I chose Huron because of its conviviality and because it was the only company that would allow me to assemble machinery from start to finish,” he explained, before continuing, “How do I see my future? I believe that industry still has a lot to offer. The technology we use is becoming increasingly complex and innovative and companies are always on the lookout for qualified staff.”

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