An exciting initiative aimed at bridging the gap between education and the workplace, was organised recently by Forth Valley College, the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) and Developing the Young Workforce (DYW).
The event held at the FVC Falkirk Campus on Monday 11 November, connected eight local high school students with industry employers and brought together around 140 pupils from — Graeme High, St Mungo’s High, Bo’ness Academy, Falkirk High, Denny High, Braes High and Larbert High as well as the Inclusion, Wellbeing and Support Service — who all gathered at FVC to explore opportunities in the engineering construction sector.
With a strong emphasis on apprenticeships and hands-on career pathways, students were given the chance to engage directly with potential employers, gaining insight into job roles, skill requirements, and future apprenticeship openings. This direct engagement is part of a larger effort to address skills gaps in the industry by inspiring and cultivating future talent.
The day was packed with interactive activities, including campus tours, visits to FVC’s specialised industry workshops, and a virtual reality welding simulator that allowed students to try their hand at welding in a fun and realistic way. Many students achieved impressive scores on the simulator, sparking newfound interest in welding careers.
Current apprentices from companies such as Wood, Semco, Petrofac, PBS, and Trillium, were also on hand to share their experiences, offering students first hand perspectives on the benefits and challenges of the apprenticeship route.
Caroline Hogg, FVC’s Head of Apprenticeships, said: “This event was a fantastic opportunity for students to explore viable career paths within the engineering and construction industry and learn about the exciting opportunities available at the College. By creating an environment where students could interact directly with employers, the event has not only provided valuable career inspiration, but has also helped local companies strengthen their community presence and brand with emerging talent.
“Through partnerships like this, the College, ECITB, and DYW are demonstrating a commitment to preparing local youth for fulfilling careers, equipping them with knowledge, connections, and enthusiasm for the future.”
Karen Wright, DYW Forth Valley Programme Lead (Falkirk), said: “It is a team effort to prepare young people for the world of work. This event was a great example of collaboration, with schools, employers, Forth Valley College and DYW Forth Valley coming together for one common goal, to inspire the future workforce.
“The power of the conversations and interactive activities that took place cannot be underestimated. 140 pupils from eight Falkirk secondary schools left the event more informed about what opportunities are out there for them, the skills they would need to succeed and the variety of pathways available to achieving a career in the Engineering Construction sector.”
Matt Knights, Director of Regional Operations at the ECITB, said: “We need to attract more people into our industry and encourage a new generation to enter the workforce. Through collaboration between industry and academia we can help raise awareness of the many pathways into engineering and the incredibly rewarding, lifelong career opportunities it offers. It was great for the team to be able to speak to and inspire the next generation of potential engineers at the event and we look forward to seeing more such collaborative events in the future.”
