UK switchgear manufacturer and international power distribution specialist R&B Switchgear Group has welcomed 10 students to its Manchester manufacturing facility as part of National Manufacturing Day 2026.
The company hosted five students from each of its college partners, Hopwood Hall College and The Manchester College, for a behind-the-scenes look at the engineering and manufacturing operation.
Led nationally by Make UK, National Manufacturing Day aims to showcase the UK manufacturing sector and highlight the range of career opportunities available to the next generation.
R&B returned to the initiative for a second consecutive year following the success of its 2025 event, this time placing health and safety at the centre of its programme.
The session was designed to show students the importance of safe working practices when entering live engineering and manufacturing environments, alongside the technical skills required to work in the power engineering sector.
Students began with a session led by R&B’s Group HSEQ Manager before touring the Manchester facility and seeing first-hand how bespoke low-voltage (LV) and high-voltage (HV) switchgear is designed and manufactured.
As part of the visit, students took part in an interactive hazard identification challenge, applying their classroom knowledge to identify potential risks within a working manufacturing environment.
From education into engineering
The visit also introduced students to potential career pathways within R&B, including opportunities through the company’s Switchgear Academy.
Students heard from a former T Level placement student who has since progressed into an apprenticeship with R&B, providing an example of how practical industry experience can lead directly into employment.
The company said the experience was intended to demonstrate the connection between classroom learning and the standards, responsibilities and working practices expected within an engineering business.
It also provided students with the opportunity to speak directly with industry professionals and gain a better understanding of the specialist skills involved in power distribution and switchgear manufacturing.
R&B said feedback from participants highlighted the value of experiencing a working engineering environment first-hand, particularly as students prepare to make decisions about their future careers.
The company selected health and safety as the focus for its 2026 programme to emphasise the role of risk awareness and personal responsibility alongside technical competence.
The event forms part of R&B’s wider engagement with education providers and its efforts to develop future engineering talent through industry placements, apprenticeships and its Switchgear Academy.
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