100 Warrington and Workington students take part in packed industry experience programme

100 students from Energy Coast University Technical College (UTC) in Workington and Warrington UTC participated in an industry experience programme last week from MissionCX at Westlakes Science Park near Whitehaven.

This fourth annual event is part of MissionCX’s social impact pledge to give back to the communities and people of Cumbria and brought together over 20 leading companies, providing students with an invaluable glimpse into future careers.

Students enjoyed five days of activities, including keynote speakers and live project tasks and a careers fair, where students gained knowledge and experience in job roles such as engineering, project managers, scientists, welders, and fitters.

Industry experience programmes like MissionCX’s provide a platform for employers to meet, inspire, and educate future employees in early careers, to ensure a future talent pipeline for the county, whilst ensuring young people secure promising futures of their own. 

Ben Slater, managing director, and Joanne Slater, operations director of MissionCX, said: “At MissionCX, we are dedicated to fostering the next generation of talent through hands-on experiences.

“Our commitment to developing future commissioning engineers, managers, and leaders is paramount to maintaining our industry’s world-leading status, both regionally and nationally.

“This event underscores our role as a leader in the field, ensuring we continue to drive innovation and excellence in the nuclear, defence, and energy sectors.

“MissionCX has proudly led, delivered, and evolved this programme for the past four years, continuously enhancing the experience for students and expanding the programme’s reach and impact, we were proud to win a Golden Apple Award last year for best Industry Engagement Programme, and are excited for our future programmes.”

Tim Ripper, senior operations manager and skills development at BAE Systems, one of the programme’s partners, shared: “At BAE Systems, we recognise the importance of working together to help raise awareness of all the career opportunities available to young people.

“Speaking to the students about the opportunities at BAE and the national endeavour that we are part of was incredibly rewarding, and I was really inspired by the level of enthusiasm, engagement, and interest. 

“MissionCX have created a really engaging week on career readiness and it’s great to see such a proactive approach from a local company and involvement from across the wider industry. Their efforts in creating these opportunities are vital for the future of our industry, our people, our communities and our nation.” 

In Cumbria, BAE Systems and Sellafield alone are set to recruit around 1,500 apprentices annually, nearly 25% of the county’s annual school leavers.

Gareth White, learning, development and research centre manager at Sellafield Ltd also praised the event: “I thoroughly enjoyed participating in the MissionCX event.

“The enthusiasm and curiosity displayed by the students were truly inspiring. This event not only provides valuable industry insights but also fosters collaboration between companies and educational institutions.

“It’s a fantastic initiative that Sellafield Ltd is proud to support, as it plays a crucial role in developing the skilled workforce of tomorrow.”

Simon Richardson, vice principal of UTC, added: “The students greatly benefited from the exposure to real-world industry challenges and the opportunity to interact with seasoned professionals. This event has been instrumental in bridging the gap between academic learning and practical application. 

“Our students returned with a renewed sense of purpose and enthusiasm for their future careers. I have been proud to support this MissionCX event for the past four years and witness its evolution and growing impact.”

In line with their commitment to continuous development, MissionCX are excited to announce the launch of a new 12-month pathways programme. Details about this innovative initiative will be released soon.