Unlocking careers in engineering: WMG’s Industry Day

On Wednesday 4 February 2026, 80 Year 8 and 9 students from across the West Midlands met professionals who live and breathe STEM to find out what it’s really like to work in the industry. But this wasn’t your typical school careers fair.

Participants attended workshops with representatives from leading companies, including 3P InnovationLink opens in a new window, RambollLink opens in a new window, JLRLink opens in a new window, and Composite BraidingLink opens in a new window, to hear about their career journeys and gain authentic, hands-on engineering experience. Through fun, interactive challenges, such as building composite bridges and collecting car performance data, students discovered some of the exciting industry projects they could work on in the future.

Jake CannerLink opens in a new window, Principal Project Manager at 3P Innovation, said: “I really enjoyed seeing how, by the end of each session, children had improved their processes as real engineers do. Events like this are crucial for reinforcing positive experiences of STEM. We hope that, as a result, a new generation of technologists and engineers come forward who otherwise may have assumed that engineering is not for them.”

Alongside invaluable time with employers, the children were inspired by an engineering exhibition featuring Warwick’s Student Project teams, Warwick Racing and Warwick Moto; WMG apprentices, students and academics; and engineering organisations, including Dunning SolutionsLink opens in a new window.

The Student Projects teams showcased the innovation that is possible through teamwork and curiosity, whilst WMG students and staff explained the range of engineering pathways available, offering advice on the GCSE subjects the children could choose should they wish to pursue a future in STEM.

Organisations dedicated to supporting underrepresented groups in engineering, including Girls on Track UKLink opens in a new window and the Sutton TrustLink opens in a new window, also offered an empowering presence, demonstrating how engineering is for everyone, regardless of gender, race or religion.

Tours of WMG’s facilities followed to give students the chance to see what studying at Warwick is like and learn how WMG could one day help them launch their engineering career.

A teacher from Rugby Free Secondary School said the day was “fantastic” and offered students “valuable insights into various routes into engineering”, whilst a student from Yardleys School in Birmingham said, “it was very informative; I learnt a lot about careers.” Another student commented how they “had a lot of fun while learning about different types of engineering”.

Marie Diebolt, WMG’s Outreach Project Officer, who led on the event, commented: “Industry Day began as an initiative supported by WMG’s High Value Manufacturing Catapult Centre, designed to help schools meet the Gatsby Benchmarks for careers guidance whilst harnessing the enthusiasm of local companies to inspire the next generation of engineers.

“Four years on, we are incredibly grateful for the continued dedication of our WMG colleagues and industry supporters, and for our partner schools' commitment to supporting young people to make informed choices about their futures.”