Derbyshire firm Longcliffe launches STEM Ambassadors to promote careers in world of quarrying
“We very much hope they will help to inspire and encourage young people to take up engineering and other STEM careers in the future.”
To celebrate national Tomorrow’s Engineers Week and promote the variety of rewarding careers available in quarrying, Matlock company Longcliffe Quarries Ltd has launched its Science Technology Engineering and Maths (STEM) Ambassadors Programme.
The Ambassadors – all qualified through the accredited STEM Learning programme - work across the business in the laboratory, engineering, quality and environmental teams. They will visit schools, colleges and universities to run interactive activities, talk about their own career paths and challenge stereotypes about who works in quarrying and what the work involves.
Tomorrow’s Engineers Week is an annual national campaign designed to celebrate and showcase careers in engineering and technology – a perfect platform for Longcliffe to promote its STEM Ambassadors and their goals.
Longcliffe manufactures 100 products which go into a vast array of applications from animal feeds and glass making, to adhesives and construction. STEM skills are used right across the business including:
· Laboratory Technicians who help ensure that the products have the right high quality specification before they are sent out to customers
· Engineers who keep the vital and complex production process on track
· Geologists who use their expertise to plan the quarrying areas to extract the right calcium carbonate for onward processing
· Finance experts who use their maths skills to manage the budgeting for the multi-million-pound independent business.
Longcliffe’s Group Managing Director Paul Boustead commented: “STEM subjects form the basis for many roles across our operation. We have worked closely with schools and colleges over recent years through initiatives such as site tours and careers events, but the STEM Ambassadors will enable us to take this education to another level.
“Tomorrow’s Engineers Week gives us a great opportunity to introduce our STEM Ambassadors. We very much hope they will help to inspire and encourage young people to take up engineering and other STEM careers in the future. They are excited to take activities into schools and colleges to encourage a better understanding of the variety of careers we offer in the quarrying industry. We also hope they will meet some future Longcliffe employees!"
The STEM Ambassadors are Julie Carey, Laboratory Supervisor; Sarah Williams, Engineering Facilitator; Daisy Salt, Laboratory Technician; Tony Hutton, Quality, Compliance & Environmental Manager and Samantha Gaunt, HR Manager.
Tony Hutton said: “I became a STEM Ambassador because I enjoy seeing the enthusiasm and energy of the next generation. I hope I am able to spark an interest in STEM, offer advice on career pathways and highlight the diverse STEM opportunities available within the quarrying industry.”
Julie Carey said: “As a STEM Ambassador and Laboratory Supervisor at Longcliffe. I am looking forward to sharing my experiences within the company with the younger generation and showing them there is a lot going on behind the scenes in our Laboratory.”
Sarah Williams said: “Through my role as a STEM Ambassador, I hope to open young people’s eyes to the wide range of careers available in quarrying, from engineering and environmental sciences to innovation and business, and inspire future talent to join our industry.”
To find out more about Longcliffe’s STEM Ambassador programme, please contact [email protected]