Andover College Connects Young People with Industry on National Manufacturing Day
Andover College welcomed more than 150 local school pupils, leading manufacturers, universities, and industry representatives as part of Make UK’s National Manufacturing Day 2026 celebrations
Hosted by Andover College, part of Sparsholt College Group, the event brought together global manufacturing businesses based in Andover with local schools and college students to showcase the exciting range of careers, skills, and opportunities available within the manufacturing and engineering sectors.
The day was officially opened by Verity Davidge, Policy Director at Make UK, who highlighted the vital role manufacturing and Andover continues to play in the UK’s economy and the importance of inspiring the next generation of skilled technical professionals.
The exhibition area was a hive of activity, with PLP and Multax delivering interactive demonstrations and employer-led activities that gave students hands on experience technologies. Students also gained valuable insight into apprenticeships, technical qualifications, employment pathways and the wide range of long-term careers available across the industry.
More than 150 Year 9 and Year 10 pupils from Winton School, St Joseph’s Catholic School and Harrow Way Community School joined Andover College’s T Level Engineering students for the event. Pupils had the chance to discover potential career pathways, meet employers and gain a first-hand insight into opportunities within the sector.
Representatives from Solent University, Warsash Maritime School and Arts University Bournemouth also supported the event with demonstrations, workshops and career talks. As part of the programme, Arts Bournemouth delivered two specialist workshops for Andover College’s Level 3 3D Design students, introducing learners to future progression opportunities in higher education and the creative industries.
National Manufacturing Day is an annual celebration organised by Make UK to highlight the innovation, creativity, and career opportunities available throughout the UK’s manufacturing sector. The 2026 event marked the second consecutive year that Andover College has hosted a National Manufacturing Day celebration, further strengthening connections between education and industry across the region.
Helen Perry: Assistant Principal at Andover College, said:
“As a member of Test Valley Borough Council’s Manufacturing Andover Group, Andover College works closely with a wide range of local manufacturing and engineering businesses to ensure our learners gain access to meaningful employer engagement opportunities throughout their studies.
Events such as National Manufacturing Day are incredibly important because they enable employers to connect directly with the next generation of skilled technical workers. They also help us ensure that our curriculum, and the curriculum within our local schools, remains responsive to industry needs and aligned with the skills that employers are seeking both now and in the future.”
Pernille Thomson: Group Communications Business Partner at Stannah has said:
“We were delighted to support this event hosted by Andover College. Bringing students together with local manufacturers is a powerful way to showcase the wide range of careers available across the manufacturing sector and help young people understand what those roles can look like in practice. It was fantastic to see the level of interest from the students throughout the day. Manufacturing offers a huge range of careers, and we hope that by sharing our experiences, we’ve helped some of the students see that there are many different routes to success and opportunities they may not have considered before.”
Deborah Fazackerley: HR & Admin Manager atPLP has said:
“PLP was delighted to support National Manufacturing Day, held this year at Andover College. Events like this help inspire the next generation of engineers and manufacturers, and help ‘grow’ future talent within our local community”
We are delighted to have hosted this event for a second year and would like to thank Make UK, Stannah, PLP, Multax, Solent University, Warsash Maritime School, Arts University Bournemouth, and all of the schools who joined us to celebrate manufacturing and engineering careers.”
The event further reinforces Andover College’s commitment to supporting regional economic growth, developing industry-ready talent, and strengthening partnerships between education providers and employers across the Test Valley and wider Hampshire region.
See how Andover College connects with local community and provides opportunities for our students. Find out more at our next Open Evening on Thursday 12 November.
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