Walton Academy students swapped the classroom for virtual welding, block paving and engineering technology as they explored where a future career in construction and engineering could take them.
On Wednesday 23 September, twelve students from year 9 and year 10 attended Construction and Engineering Week 2026 at Lincolnshire Showground, joining young people from across the region for one of the area’s largest events connecting schools directly with industry.
Now in its 22nd year, the three-day event welcomed more than 1,500 pupils and brought together more than 80 companies from Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, the Humber and surrounding areas, giving students the opportunity to meet employers, apprentices and industry professionals and experience different careers first-hand.
Learning by doing
For Walton students, the emphasis was very much on getting involved.
They tried virtual reality welding with PJD, part of the Ropsley Group, laid block paving with Clegg Construction and The Construction Skills People, and worked with R G Carter to identify risks and hazards found on construction sites.
Students also explored some of the technology used within modern engineering, using equipment with Altrad to investigate how hidden defects and imperfections in materials and pipework can be detected. The activities offered an insight not only into traditional trades, but also the increasingly technical and specialist careers available across the sectors.
The visit formed part of Walton Academy’s Future Thinking careers programme, which aims to give students meaningful encounters with employers and experiences that help them make informed decisions about their futures.
Meeting people already working in industry gives students the opportunity to ask questions about different roles, apprenticeships and qualifications, while practical experiences allow them to discover skills and career areas they may not previously have considered.
Ending the day on a high
Year 9 student, Lewis, and year 10 student, Harry, were each presented with a ‘best in activity’ award medal, recognising their performance during the event.
Their awards provided a fantastic end to a day which gave all twelve students the opportunity to try something new, develop practical skills and see for themselves the breadth of opportunities available within construction and engineering.
