On Thursday 11th May, the first Year 10 Industry Insight trip took place; the aim of these visits being to introduce pupils to a variety of Island businesses. Pupils visited AJ Wells, a longstanding island company which manufactures and distributes stoves and enamel signage products.

After a short presentation from Guy Wells, one of the managing directors, we had an interesting tour of the different parts of the business and spoke to employees who had taken very different career and education pathways; a Welding apprentice, a degree apprentice in Product Development, and a university intern currently completing a year in industry studying Design Engineering. We also heard about business, marketing and sales roles, as well as work experience opportunities for young people. It was especially interesting to see an enamel sign being printed, and to learn that a company on the Isle of Wight designs and manufactures much of the London Underground signage.

Pupils asked some fantastic questions on the tour, and hopefully took something valuable from the experience of an industry which many have not encountered before.

Thank you to AJ Wells for hosting TIFS pupils for the afternoon!