Balsall Common Primary School held an Inspiring Futures Day that gave 90 pupils hands-on experience exploring careers in engineering, motor vehicles, aerospace, construction, hairdressing, and beauty. Students spent an hour learning about four of the six areas from experts at Solihull College. The event aimed to inspire students and show them career opportunities while helping to address future skills gaps. The school's director said it was important to inspire young minds and dispel myths about career options.

1. Balsall Common Primary School & Damson Wood Nursery and Infant School
Part of Central Schools Trust (Multi Academy Trust)
Balsall Street East, Balsall Common, Coventry CV7 7FS
Tel: 01676 532254
Email: office@balsall-common.solihull.sch.uk
1 December 2016
Press Release - for immediate release.
_____________________________________
Balsall Common Primary School’s Inspiring Futures Day
Pupils from a Solihull school got the chance to find out whether they might be the engineers
of the future when they took part in a special ‘skills day’ recently.
The day gave the children the opportunity to gain hands on experience in a safe
environment in small groups giving them a tremendous overall experience.
The event held at Solihull College, Woodlands Campus, and covered six areas:
· Motor Vehicle
· Engineering
· Aerospace
· Construction
· Hairdressing & Barbering
· Beauty
Pupils got the chance to pick 4 areas from the 6 and had an hour to explore and learn about
their chosen area.
The Mayor of Solihull, Mike Robinson, opened the event and spent two hours with the
students spending time in each area as did the Principle of Solihull College, John Callaghan,
Rosa Wells, Programme Manager Engineering and Woodlands Campus Higher
Education Shaun Hindle, Senior Director Employment and Skills Solihull College &
University Centre and Graeme Burgess, Executive Headteacher of Central Schools Trust.

2. The event, which Solihull Chamber helped organise, was aimed at showing the students
what careers were on offer in key areas with the aim of potentially filling the Skills Gaps of
the future.
Howard Rose, director of funding and publicity at the school, said: “It was a great event and
shows real collaborative working. If it had not been for Solihull Chamber of Commerce and
Solihull College it would never have happened and 90 children would have missed out on
the experience and inspiration I am sure this day gave them.
It is hugely important to inspire young children and get their imaginations going, think about
future career paths and to dispel myths.
This is a great example of what we are doing to fill the skills gaps and ‘change the world’
rather than just talking about it.”

5. Ends
Howard Rose
Director of Funding and Publicity
Balsall Common Primary School & Damson Wood Nursery and Infant School
Central Schools Trust (Multi Academy Trust)
Balsall Common Primary School
Balsall Street East
Balsall Common
CV7 7FS
t: +44 (0) 1676 532254 ext 264
m: +44 (0) 7989 515252
e: s2hrose@balsall-common.solihull.sch.uk
w: www.balsallcommonprimary.co.uk