He’s inspired thousands now Ian is awarded a ‘deserved’ honour
The man who inspired thousands of North East youngsters to pursue a career in engineering and manufacturing has been honoured for his achievement.
IanGreenhasbeenmadean MBEintheNewYear’sHonours forservicestoApprenticeships and STEM skills in recognition of his work with the NissanGlobalTrainingcentreand Skills Foundation.
Ian, 54, established the foundation in 2012 to bridge the gap between Nissan and schools, promoting apprenticeships and graduate entry.
Since then it has engaged with more than 350 schools, growingfrom335childrenand four schools in 2012 to more than 12,000 students and over 180 schools annually, including more than 500 people with disabilities from nine special schools.
The foundation has been awarded the Quality Badge by the Council for Learning OutsidetheClassroomandIanwas named as the Changemaker of the Year at the National IndustrialCadetsAwardsin2017and recognised as one of the Top 100 people in Manufacturing a year later.
Using experience as a school governor, he developed the Monozukuri (the art of making) Caravan programme
for primary-age children to meet the requirements of the national curriculum and has developed additional programmes for older children, developing the most successful Prince of Wales Industrial
Cadetprogrammeinthecountry and co-ordinating the largest network of Formula One in Schoolsteamsregionallyinthe country.
HesetuptheGirlsinMonozukuri,Manufacturing&Engineering
programme, which is a half-day conference run four times a year to provoke and inspire Y9-13 girls through the experience of other women in engineering.
In November 2021, the foundation reached the landmark of 70,000 young people havingbeenonthevariousprogrammes.
Learninghehadbeennominatedwas“justsounexpected”, said Ian: “I was shocked – but also very, very proud,” he said.
"It is not something I have ever thought I would get, it is not something that happens to someone like me, but it is reallynicetogettherecognition.”
Now he is seeing the results of the programme firsthand: “Oneofournewstaffmembers, Lois Haywood, did the course when she was 11,” he said.
"She is now an 18-year-old and working for us.
“Itisahugehonourandsurprise to receive this fantastic award. I am extremely proud of the Nissan Skills Foundation and our apprenticeship programmes, and their ongoing importance to skills development across our region.
"To be awarded an MBE is the icing on the cake.”
Alan Johnson, Vice President,Manufacturing,atNissan Sunderland Plant, said: “This is richly deserved recognition for Ian, whose talent and dedication has played a major part in building our fantastic Skills Foundation and pushing forwardourapprenticeshipsprogramme.
“As a plant we are hugely proud of Ian and his team, not just for this award, but also for the vital work they do in developing the skills and talent that is vital for our exciting electrified future.”
TheNissanSunderlandApprenticeship scheme is now open.
For more information visit: https://careersatnissan.co.uk/ nissan-apprenticeships/