Road to Success: Highways Industry Careers Day inspires next generation

Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group (NSCG) welcomes visitors to a ground-breaking event.

The Highways Industry Careers Day, which has never been held in the Midlands region before, saw more than 20 national companies come together to exhibit and encourage engagement in this innovative and exciting sector.

Featuring interactive displays and activities, the event's primary objective was to provide young people from Years’ 9 to 13 with valuable insights into this dynamic sector with the hopes of encouraging them to consider a career in the field.

Schools from across the county were invited to join learners studying Construction and Engineering programmes at NSCG as they got the chance to see large-scale plant machinery up close including an 18 foot screed truck, paver and gritter.

Other activities included line marking, designing road signs, creating electrical circuits and trying out different industry-related scenarios using VR Headsets.

The Midlands' Highways Industry Careers Day attracted participation from around 20 organizations operating within the strategic road network from around the UK with organizations eager to showcase the type of work they do and outline the various pathways into the industry, including apprenticeships and graduate courses.

Representatives from companies such as Amey, Concrete Repairs Ltd, Jacobs, Kier Transportation, National Highways, Tarmac Traffic Management and Staffordshire Police were in attendance to spotlight the many opportunities a career in the highways could lead to.

"We are thrilled to have organized the Midlands' inaugural Highways Industry Careers Day," said Meryl Cotton, T Levels Manager at NSCG. "Our goal was to inspire young minds and offer an opportunity for young talent to connect with employers, ask questions, and gain an understanding whilst providing them with a glimpse of the possibilities within the highways industry.

“Importantly, the event welcomed young women in an effort to address the gender imbalance and we were encouraged by the turnout.

“The whole event was a great success and we are hoping to make it an annual tradition."

Feeling inspired and want to find out more about the range of courses and pathways available to study at NSCG? Come to our next Open Event at Newcastle College on November 16 from 5:30pm to 8pm.