A partnership between education charity, Engineering Development Trust (EDT) and the ERA Foundation has reached 800 young people across eight Black Country schools in its first year, as it works to address the region’s future engineering and advanced manufacturing skills needs.
The three-year initiative, launched in early 2026, is bringing together schools, employers, universities, colleges and third-sector organisations to give young people earlier and more meaningful exposure to the industries that underpin the Black Country’s manufacturing economy.
The first year focused on Year 7 and 8 pupils engaging in STEM workshops exploring the role of digital technology and AI in advanced manufacturing. The aim was not simply to introduce pupils to STEM, but to help them understand how manufacturing is changing and the diverse roles and career opportunities emerging within the sector.
It is great to see this pilot in the Black Country make such an impactful start. The ERA Foundation looks forward to seeing this project continue to build great industry connections to deliver much needed insights to young people. This will help them gather a much better understanding of our great engineering and manufacturing sector as they consider their futures.
Andrew Everett, CEO and Executive Secretary of the ERA Foundation
With the first year establishing a strong foundation, the partnership is now moving into its second phase, shifting from initial STEM inspiration towards deeper skills development, employer engagement and progression, collaborating with industry heavyweights including, Jaguar Land Rover and Balfour Beatty.
Across the 2026/27 academic year, the programme aims to support more than 1,000 young people across the Black Country. More than 50 of those students who took part in the first-year workshops will be able to progress into an in-depth mentoring programme, working collaboratively to solve a real advanced manufacturing challenge.
The programme is designed to give young people a more authentic insight into the way engineering and manufacturing businesses operate, while developing problem-solving, teamwork and other work-ready capabilities.
EDT and the ERA Foundation are also developing a new programme for Year 11 and 12 students, targeting pupils at key decision-making points when they are considering their next steps after school. Developed in partnership with Jaguar Land Rover, its supply chain and higher education partners, the programme will give students first-hand experience of apprenticeship and university pathways, alongside support with their applications.
A key element of the partnership is the development of a Black Country STEM cluster, creating stronger connections between the region’s education system and its engineering and manufacturing employers.
By connecting young people with employers, education providers and industry professionals across the Black Country, we can provide the opportunities, experiences and insight they need to make informed decisions about their futures.
We want to build a stronger, more diverse pipeline of talent into engineering and advanced manufacturing, while ensuring young people across the region can see the exciting opportunities that are available to them.
Julie Feest, CEO of EDT & Industrial Cadets
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