BPF launches educational resources website to solve skills shortage

The British Plastics Federation (BPF) has launched an educational website specifically aimed at schoolchildren and teachers.

The ‘Polymer Zone’ site is the brainchild of the association’s Skills and Education committee who decided a resource-based outlet was needed for schools so that the perception of plastics could be improved, the range of careers in the industry highlighted and, as a result, the current skills gap closed.

“We are absolutely thrilled to be launching ‘Polymer Zone’, as we feel there is a huge need for such a resource among school children,” explained Stephen Hunt, BPF Membership Services Director. “We are extremely passionate about education and skills and we would like to see more young people entering into the industry.”

Polymer Zone serves as an educational hub for a variety of useful plastics resources including education kits that can be used in schools, over 50 engaging videos about plastic as a material, activities and experiments suitable for classroom use as well as a series of 12 downloadable PowerPoint presentations provided by PlasticsEurope, that can be viewed directly on the site as well as downloaded and tailored for individual teaching use.

In addition, the BPF has worked closely with an educational specialist to create a lesson plan aimed at Key Stage 3 children (pupils aged between 11 and 14) studying Design and Technology.  The lesson plan, which is curriculum linked, allows children to match plastic products with the processes used to create them.  All relevant support material is available to download free of charge from the site.

 ‘Polymer Zone’ can be found by visiting: www.polymerzone.co.uk