Schools and Businesses Join Forces to Inspire the Next Generation of Engineers

Seven schools and seven businesses came together for an inspiring day of collaboration, innovation and industry engagement, helping young people discover the opportunities available within engineering and manufacturing.

CBE+, United Cast Bar Group and Destination Chesterfield joined forces to deliver an exciting initiative designed to strengthen the connection between education and industry and give students a first-hand insight into the world of work.

The event brought together students from seven schools with seven local businesses, creating an opportunity for young people to experience modern manufacturing environments, meet industry professionals and put their creativity and problem-solving skills to the test.

The day began with students visiting participating businesses for factory tours, giving them a behind-the-scenes look at modern manufacturing and an insight into the range of skills, technologies and career opportunities within the sector.

Following their visits, students worked in teams to develop their own innovation projects, drawing inspiration from what they had seen and experienced during the morning.

The afternoon took the students to Barrow Hill Roundhouse Railway Centre, where they explored the heritage of engineering through a demonstration at the historic Roundhouse before moving to the DRIIVE Innovation Centre.

At DRIIVE, each team had the opportunity to present its innovation project to a panel of judges made up of manufacturing students from Chesterfield College. The teams demonstrated creativity, confidence and an impressive range of ideas as they explained their concepts and responded to questions from the panel.

The winning team was announced by Toby Perkins MP, bringing the day to a close with a celebration of the students’ achievements.

The event demonstrated the value of giving young people meaningful opportunities to engage directly with industry. By experiencing manufacturing environments first-hand and working on practical innovation challenges, students were able to see how the skills they develop in education can translate into real-world careers.

For the businesses involved, the initiative also provided an opportunity to engage with potential future talent and demonstrate the breadth of opportunities available across engineering and manufacturing.

If the industry is to build the next generation of engineers and manufacturers, engaging young people early is essential. Initiatives such as this can help students understand what a career in engineering could look like and encourage them to explore the many pathways available.

The event was a strong example of what can be achieved when businesses, education and the local community work together, creating valuable experiences that inspire young people and help develop the future engineering workforce.

A day of learning, creativity and collaboration – and an important step towards inspiring the engineers of tomorrow.