Students get to look inside West Norfolk businesses for National Manufacturing Day

West Norfolk’s leading manufacturers opened their doors on this week as part of National Manufacturing Day, giving students a rare chance to explore the world of modern manufacturing and engineering up close.

The event was delivered through a collaboration between the Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk, New Anglia Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering (NAAME), and seven major local employers — Ravago, Mars, SKF Cooper, Fosters Refrigeration, Dodman, Timber Frame Management and William's Refrigeration.

150 Students took part in behind‑the‑scenes tours, met industry professionals, and discovered the diverse career pathways available across one of the region’s most productive sectors. Participating Schools and Organisations - Downham Market Academy, King Edward VII Academy, Springwood High School, King's Lynn Academy, College of West Anglia, Marshland High School, St Clement's High School and BOOST Programme.

Cllr Simon Ring, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Business, said: “National Manufacturing Day is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the strength of our local manufacturing sector. Building on the success of last year's event, 150 places were made available for students interested in manufacturing and engineering. We also had seven of West Norfolk's leading businesses welcoming them into their workplaces for site tours and career talks, enabling them to gain first-hand insight into manufacturing businesses across West Norfolk. I want to thank Ravago, Mars, SKF Cooper, Fosters Refrigeration, Dodman, Timber Frame Management and William's Refrigeration for their support.

“We we're fortunate to have these world-class employers in our borough. By opening their doors, they're helping young people broaden their horizons, understand the career paths available locally, and see first-hand the scale of opportunity within advanced manufacturing and engineering."

Students were able to hear from employees across engineering, operations, logistics, food production, precision engineering to refrigeration, timber-frame construction, advanced materials and bespoke manufacturing, highlighting the breadth of roles available and the many routes into the industry, from apprenticeships to degree‑level study.

Cllr Ring added: “Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering remains one of West Norfolk’s most productive sectors, contributing £530 million in Gross Value Added (GVA) — around 28% of the area’s total economic output. This reflects both the depth of talent in our workforce and the strategic importance of the sector to our long‑term growth.”

National Manufacturing Day is coordinated by Make UK, celebrating the scale of the UK’s manufacturing sector — from food and drink to aerospace, pharmaceuticals, engineering and advanced technology.