New children's book about a spaceship crash landing in Liverpool is set to inspire next generation of innovators
DOZENS of Primary School children
helped well known local author Natalie Reeves Billing launch her new book
designed to inspire the next generation of innovators.
Pupils from Pleasant Street Primary School joined Natalie at:- 'The Spine
in Knowledge Quarter Liverpool' (KQ Liverpool) to read extracts from the
illustrated book, called:- 'The Animates, Learning in Liverpool.'
It tells the tale of a group of animals; including:- a panda, sloth, ostrich and
mouse; that crash land from space at Liverpool Science Park and have to repair
themselves and their ship with the help of local innovators around the KQ
Liverpool innovation district.
Written for:- 6 to 8 year olds, the aim is to place copies of the book in every
Liverpool City Region Primary School. Natalie said:- "This has been such a
great project to work on. Distilling complex concepts into engaging, fun and
palatable stories has been just as insightful for me as for the young readers.
We want children everywhere to know that there is a place for them and their
specific skills and talents within the innovation sector."
Emily Robson, Assistant Chief Executive of KQ Liverpool, said:- "The Life
Sciences Investment Zone plans involve supercharging Liverpool City Region's
economy, creating 8,000 new jobs and saving lives across the world. KQ Liverpool
will be at the engine room for those plans and we are keen to show the next
generation of innovators the opportunities that exist here. Our new book aims to
provide a unique way of doing that and, by engaging young children in the ideas
of invention and creativity, we hope it allows them to see what their own future
might hold. It was wonderful to watch the children enjoying the story and see an
interest in innovation sparking into life among a new generation of pioneers."
The Animates; Learning in Liverpool was specially commissioned by KQ Liverpool
in partnership with Connected Places Catapult and was also launched in front of
a business audience.
It is part of a major focus on inspiring and training the next generation of
local innovators, while retaining more graduates to power the City Region's
innovation ambitions.
Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Executive Director of Investment Dr
Aileen Jones said:- "These are hugely exciting times for innovation in the
Liverpool City Region. Innovation Investment Week will allow us to celebrate and
showcase our creativity, entrepreneurship and scientific brilliance. We have a
new Life Sciences Investment Zone, which like our Freeport, offers significant
opportunities to businesses and investors wishing to capitalise on our
world leading innovation capabilities. They also offer massive opportunities to
local people through the creation of thousands of high quality jobs. It is vital
we give local people the right skills to take advantage of these opportunities.
Natalie's excellent book is sure to fire the imagination of children and inspire
some on a creative, innovative and scientific path."
The book was launched at The Spine which is the northern headquarters of the
Royal College of Physicians and is located at Paddington Village, Liverpool City
Council's flagship development site.
The launch ushered in the City Region's 1st ever Innovation Investment Week
which will showcase the Region's world leading innovation and billions of pounds
of opportunities.
4 days of innovation themed activity includes a local launch of the City
Region's new Life Sciences Investment Zone, a Dragons' Den style pitching event,
a pharma industry conference and the City Region's third Innovation Investment
Summit.
Evening events include:- a Pint of Science; which features talks by more than 40
academics from:- the University of Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU)
and Liverpool School of Tropical Science (LSTM) at pubs in the City Centre and
Wirral. Tomorrow (Tuesday), University of Liverpool Professor Matt Rosseinsky;
recipient of last year's Eni Award which is often described as the Nobel Prize
of energy research; will address a special audience at the Materials Innovation
Factory.
Experts from around the world will gather for the day long Innovation Investment
Summit at LJMU's Student Life building on Thursday, May 16.
Liverpool City Region has more than £725m of live innovation projects with a
further £1.9bn in development. The Life Sciences Investment Zone, which started
operating in April, is expected to attract an extra £800m of public and private
sector investment and create 8,000 new jobs and is in addition to AstraZeneca's
£450m investment in its Speke facility announced in March.
The City Region is 1 of only 3 places in the UK to benefit from both Investment
Zone and Freeport status.
Mayor Steve Rotheram has set a target to invest 5% of the City Region's economy
each year on R&D by 2030; nearly double the UK target. Achieving the 5% target
would deliver an estimated £41.7bn of gross economic benefit, a 10% increase in
productivity and 44,000 new jobs.
The City Region is a world leader in infection prevention and control, materials
science and AI solutions and emerging technologies with growing strengths in
net-zero and maritime innovation.
Cruising into a new career with Mersey Ferries
MIHAI Muntean is 41 and lives in
Birkenhead. In September 2023, Mihai became Mersey Ferries oldest apprentice, as
he embarked on a 3 year Marine Engineering apprenticeship and snapped up a
second chance at a career on the water.
Mihai's career began at an early age. At 18, he was enrolled in National Service
in Romania and, while his preference was to join the Navy, that wasn't meant to
be. Instead, he learnt the basics of mechanics and left after his service to
work in a car body shop. With the call of the sea ringing in his ears, he knew
he should make a career change and enrolled in College where he learnt the
skills needed to become a Bridge Officer. Upon completion of his qualification,
he set out for cruise ships and led a great life at sea, working on the Bridge
of various cruise liners while seeing the world, port by port, and climbing the
ranks to First Officer.
Cruise ships didn't just bring Mihai the skills he needed to sail a ship, this
is also where he met his wife and made the decision to move to the Wirral and
start a family. However, before he could get back out to sea, Mihai had an
accident that meant he would never be able to sail again and would have to give
up the job he loved. This is when he discovered the Mersey Ferries.
Applying for a summer job to learn more about the Ferries and see if this would
be something he could enjoy, Mihai was delighted when he was offered a permanent
role. And, given his skills and experience, it wasn't long before he was offered
the opportunity of an apprenticeship. Due to his injuries, he would no longer be
able to work on the Bridge however, he found a renewed use for his mechanical
training and was delighted this could be the very thing to get him back on the
water. In September 2023, he began his apprenticeship as a Marine Engineer and
is excited for what this new career has in store.
For 5 months each year, until 2026, Mihai will be at College in Fleetwood, for
the remainder of the year, he will be back on the water helping to keep the
Mersey Ferries running through the busy summer months and putting his new skills
to good use. From September 2026, presuming all goes to plan, Mihai will be a
qualified Level 3 Marine Engineer and will be able to spend the remainder of his
career working with the Mersey Ferries, carrying out routine maintenance on the
existing vessels and being part of the crew that gets the new vessel onto the
Mersey. Mihai has been given a second chance at a new career doing something he
loves, and he couldn't be happier.
When asked what starting an apprenticeship in your forties was like, Mihai
offered the following wise words of wisdom:- "starting again is always
going to be challenging, but it is also very rewarding. I am being given the
chance at a new and unexpected career, 1 that keeps me on the water and working
for an organisation that is full of history. I'm also surrounding myself with
new people who get to share their experience with me and offer me a new
perspective on life. I'm grateful there are so many varied apprenticeships
available within the organisation; I never knew this would be an option for me
and I wouldn't have had this chance had it not been for the apprenticeship
scheme. I would recommend apprenticeships to everyone - you get to learn a job
while being able to use the skills right away, it's something not every career
path can offer you. It's a great way to find a career you enjoy."
Mihai has been offered his apprenticeship as part of the Liverpool City Region
Combined Authority programme. Working with Mersey Ferries is just 1 of the
opportunities available, there are several more, along with a variety of
potential roles available to people from all backgrounds. To find out more about
apprenticeships and the ways in which you can apply, please visit:-
LCRBeMore.Co.UK.