schemes. We also decided that another primary group would be STEM organisations. Educational tools Once we had determined what the target groups were going to be, we then considered what our core aims should be before contacting these groups. We needed to decide how what we offer could best meet their educational needs. For example, further to the above reference to educational tookkits, we asked ourselves: if we want to raise awareness of the fluid power industry what are the best tools available to us that could meet the individual needs of people within these groups, and what type of tools could a teacher use when teaching students this subject? These tools needed to be able to engage students’ attention and inspire them to take a more proactive interest in our industry. We considered that the physical nature of the tools would ideally be things a teacher or trainer could easily take off a shelf or retrieve from a cupboard to be able to engage students in practical exercises easily with minimal preparation. These could be, for example, practical small-scale building kits that represent a leading to a lifelong profession. So, from a public relations perspective, we wanted to ensure young people, teachers and trainers were more aware not only about fluid power, but also about the BFPA, the important part it plays in our industry and how it could be used as a key go-to resource for advice and support. Additionally, it is important to emphasise to our target groups that although the membership of the BFPA consists of individual manufacturers and distributors, the Association itself is nonpartisan, as is the work done by the BFPA committees and now the work undertaken by the new strategy teams. The message should be that we are here to assist in any way we can in an impartial manner. Our group also wants to encourage BFPA member organisations to promote awareness of our industry locally within their own areas – for example, whenever they run a local event. Digital portal Our strategy group was also mindful that young people regularly use online social media channels. Therefore, if we are to reach them successfully. we need to think along similar lines in terms of how we encourage them to take an interest in the information and services we offer. So, again, as part of our mission statement to raise the awareness of fluid power to young people we decided to put to the BFPA Board the suggestion that a BFPA educational resource digital portal be added to the website. This was duly mandated by the Board. Essentially, we want the portal to become a wellestablished and valued resource for people in industry, schools, colleges, universities and those serving apprenticeships to use on a regular basis. We feel we have put in place a compelling and valuable strategy roadmap for our team, and we intend to progress this with vigour over the coming year and beyond. particular piece of fluid power equipment or system. The tools could also be smallscale robots or other types of appealing equipment. We felt this type of thing could prove both highly educational and also interesting and engaging to young pupils, STEM students, apprentices etc. We also felt these tools could include things such as instructive wall posters that show, for example, the way a pneumatic actuator or electro-pneumatic actuator works and how it is applied in the real world. Raising the BFPA’s profile As well as providing the most effective tools and materials, we also considered what would be the most effective means of promoting the BFPA within our target groups. We felt that, in the case of young people or STEM students, it was important for them to have an understanding of the fluid power industry and the critical role it plays in society and industry. However, we also knew it was important to present fluid power and related automation in such a way that the students became genuinely engaged in the topic. This, we felt, was the best way to secure more commitment from young people to enter our industry, possibly 28 www.bfpa.co.uk
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjQ0NzM=