Leeds Manufacturing Festival Inspires Future Industry Talent
March 26, 2026Local students explore career opportunities in manufacturing
On 25 March, students from Leeds City College, University Technical College Leeds, and other local schools attended the Leeds Manufacturing Festival Careers Showcase at Leeds City College’s Printworks campus. The event aimed to provide young people with insight into the manufacturing sector and the variety of roles available within the industry.
The Careers Showcase formed part of the wider Leeds Manufacturing Festival, an annual event celebrating the city’s manufacturing sector. It serves as a platform to connect students and education providers with local employers and industry experts, helping to address regional skills shortages and encourage young people to consider careers in manufacturing.
Industry presence and activities
Several manufacturing organisations from across the city participated in the event, including:
- E3 Recruitment
- Made in Yorkshire
- MPM Group
- Next Gen Makers
- Greyhound Box
- RSE
These organisations showcased a range of career paths within manufacturing, spanning engineering, design, and quality control.
Supporting student development
The event featured break-out sessions designed to help students develop practical skills such as CV writing, interview preparation, and work readiness. This approach aimed to equip attendees with tools to improve their employability and confidence when entering the job market.
Clayton Stott, Head of Engineering and Manufacturing at Leeds City College, commented on the event’s purpose: “This event gives students exposure to the variety the sector has to offer and opportunities to see what they could do in the future, which will broaden their horizons to seeing different avenues into the workplace.”
Stephanie Plazzi, Marketing Manager at E3 Recruitment, highlighted the value of direct engagement between employers and students: “It is very important to have employees directly connect with students because they can offer a different perspective to colleges. We have some really good conversations with students. Some know exactly what they want to do but some don’t, so we’ll find out what skills they have and how they can apply these. A lot of hobbies can relate to careers in manufacturing without people even realising.”
Simon Logan from RSE noted the company’s involvement as part of its community engagement: “It’s community payback for us as a business. It’s not always about a position available. We can give free advice at these events and give students an opportunity to practice their interview skills so we can then provide feedback to help them progress.”
Vincent Hemsworth, an apprentice at MPM Group, reflected on the contribution of younger workers: “They bring new opinions. They come straight off the back of learning and can pick up skills really quickly.”
Upcoming events and opportunities
The Leeds Manufacturing Festival continues to host events throughout the year, including the Leeds Manufacturing Awards. Members of the public can nominate individuals, teams, or organisations for recognition at the awards. More information about the awards and future events is available on the Leeds Manufacturing Festival website.
