RNLI invites students to take part in Manufacturing Experience Day

The RNLI invited students from local SEN (special education needs) schools in Dorset along to Poole for the day last week to see first-hand what a manufacturing environment is like. The students experienced a detailed tour of the All-weather Lifeboat Centre (ALC) in Poole, meeting some of our apprentices along the way.

Students attended sessions with some of our engineers and apprentices across naval architecture, electronics, and civil engineering to talk through engineering career pathways, get insights into live projects our teams are working on, followed by putting some of their learning into practice!

Jamie Chestnutt, Director of Engineering and Supply, said:

'It was great to watch these students interact with our demonstrations and solve problems or grow an understanding in their own way, and it was a useful reminder to me that diversity comes in many unique and amazing forms, with each person offering so much to us as a society and organisation. Thank you to Grace, Georgia, Natasha, Max, Will, Alicia, Joe and Greg and all our teams for putting your hands up to get involved. Following this success, we hope to use a similar format at upcoming STEM events and we will also be showcasing our STEM activities at the AGM in June which is really exciting.'

The Manufacturing Experience Day consisted of hundreds of local students, who between them visited 20 manufacturers in the area.

The local STEM Steering Board for Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council played an important role in the creation of this event, which was the first of its kind in the area. The Steering Board was founded by representatives from BCP Council, local manufacturers and the RNLI to encourage young people in the area to consider a career in manufacturing.