One day in manufacturing.

A different perspective on the future.

Can one day inside a manufacturing plant change how a young person thinks about their future? At BOAL Extrusion UK, National Manufacturing Day 2026 showed us that it can.

On 22 September, we welcomed twelve Level 3 T-Level students from Loughborough College to our manufacturing facility in Shepshed, giving them a first-hand introduction to modern British manufacturing.

During their visit, the students explored aluminium extrusion, visited our production facilities, die shop and engineering department, and met the people behind the processes. They discovered how technical knowledge, teamwork and problem-solving come together to turn ideas into finished aluminium profiles.

One student's reaction particularly stood out. Having expected manufacturing to be 'boring', he left seriously considering a career in the industry.

From first impressions to future opportunities

For us, that response highlighted why opening our doors matters. Young people need opportunities to see what manufacturing involves before they can imagine building a career within it.

But awareness alone is not enough.

Through work experience, apprenticeships and partnerships with local education providers, BOAL Extrusion UK aims to create meaningful routes into employment and long-term career development.

The positive response from Loughborough College, including an interest in bringing another group of students, offers an encouraging starting point for continued collaboration.

One visit may not determine someone's future. But it can open their eyes to possibilities they hadn't considered before. And that is a good reason to keep opening our doors.