Industry~Schools Partnership

The Metals Academy’s Industry~Schools Partnership aims to build successful relationships between local metals and engineering companies and local schools.

The Partnership works on behalf of employers to:

  • make local industry easily accessible to those in the surrounding community
  • improve the teaching of manufacturing and engineering subjects
  • promote engineering and manufacturing apprenticeships as an attractive option for school-leavers

All of which is designed to attract a stream of high-calibre entrants into an industry that often struggles with a lack of promotion and understanding in the wider population.

The Industry~Schools Partnership four main programmes are:

Teacher placements

The Partnership encourages and organises teacher placements at local companies. These placements provide an insight into real manufacturing procedures and business issues, which can then be relayed back to pupils in classroom teaching.

 Apprentice Ambassadors

The Metals Academy Apprentices Ambassadors visit schools in order to:

  • Support the teaching of engineering and manufacturing
  • Provide an insight into the world of work
  • Explain the benefits of apprenticeships

Apprentice Ambassadors as current Metals Academy Apprentices have created a bridge between industry and teaching; helping to inspire young people to undertake apprenticeships in the industry.
Company visits

Following initial teacher placements, company visits can be arranged for teachers and groups of students. These visits give students the chance to see what happens in metals companies and introduce them to future work experience placements.
Student placements

The Partnership organises work experience placements for those students who, after completing a company visit, show a keen interest in learning more about manufacturing. These structured placements start with an interview to make sure that the participating students have the commitment required to complete a successful placement. Students will experience a full overview of the company, and have the chance to work in production, design, sales, finance and marketing.