NTU holds successful Science and Tech Careers Day for 300 schoolchildren at Sherwood Observatory
A successful career aspirations event was held at Sherwood Observatory last week (24th March) to demonstrate the wide range of science and technology career opportunities available for local secondary school students aged 14-18 from Ashfield.
By Sarah McLeod | Published on 2 April 2025
Categories: Press office; Mansfield; School of Science and Technology;
Run by Ideas4Careers in partnership with NTU, with the theme ‘Reach for the Stars’, the event saw over 25 local science and technology exhibitors gather for the day, from the RAF Youth STEM team, Hucknall Air Museum and local businesses including ITP Aero, Glenair, Dassault Systemes, Environment Agency, GXO, Connect Fibre, Flannery, ATTFE, Mesh Training and further and higher education partners from the sector including robotics from West Notts College.
In addition, the attending schools took part in a series of planetarium shows and hands-on activities throughout the day from various science and technology providers.
The successful event was part of the Aspiring Careers Ashfield project led by Ideas4Careers, funded by Ashfield District Council through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, and supported by NTU’s School of Science & Technology. The event also received a donation from the RAF for equipment for the Observatory. It is hoped that the event will become a main stay in the academic calendar in the future.
Jon Wright, Undergraduate Course Leader for Forensic Science at Nottingham Trent University, and also Outreach Co-ordinator for the School of Science & Technology said: “We have been overwhelmed at the response we’ve had to this event, both from the schools attending and the exhibitors. It’s really shown that there is an appetite for careers in STEM in the local area, and we hope we’ve been able to give some young people real options for the future.”
Michelle Taylor, Managing Director, Ideas4Careers said: “The event was a resounding success, providing students with engaging interactions that sparked their interest in STEM. We are excited about the positive impact it has had on the students’ interest in science and technology careers as well as broadening their knowledge of related industries here in Ashfield. Exhibitors from various industries were thrilled to share valuable insights into career paths and practical applications of STEM skills, while also highlighting the importance of these roles in today’s world. This was education/business collaboration at its best. We hope the success of this event will lead to future events.”
Cllr Arnie Hankin, Chairman of Ashfield District Council said: “This event was a fantastic opportunity to showcase the exciting career paths available for students in science and technology. It was great to be able to hold it at the newly opened Sherwood Observatory which provided a fitting backdrop to the event. By connecting students with industry professionals, we are helping to build a strong, skilled, and diverse workforce that will benefit the future of Ashfield.”
Feedback from the day included:
“Great planetarium experience and lots of great career advice and pathways available”
“I liked looking at the fingerprints and discovering which one was mine”
“Lots of opportunities to learn and see new technology”
“My most enjoyed activity was the VR car”
“I liked the 3D in person gravity sketch, could see myself working in 3D modelling”
Notes for Editors
Press enquiries please contact Sarah McLeod, Corporate Communications Manager, on telephone +44 (0)115 848 8735, or via email.
About Nottingham Trent University
Nottingham Trent University (NTU) has been named UK ‘University of the Year’ five times in six years, (Times Higher Education Awards 2017, The Guardian University Awards 2019, The Times and Sunday Times 2018 and 2023, Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023) and is consistently one of the top performing modern universities in the UK.
It is the 3rd best modern university in the UK (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023). Students have voted NTU 1st in the UK for student employability (Uni Compare 2025)
NTU is the 5th largest UK institution by student numbers, with over 40,000 students and more than 4,400 staff located across six campuses. It has an international student population of almost 7,000 and an NTU community representing over 160 countries.
NTU owns two Queen’s Anniversary Prizes for outstanding achievements in research (2015, 2021). The first recognises NTU’s research on the safety and security of global citizens. The second was awarded for research in science, engineering, arts and humanities to investigate and restore cultural objects, buildings and heritage. The Research Excellence Framework (2021) classed 83% of NTU’s research activity as either world-leading or internationally excellent.
NTU was awarded GOLD in the national 2023 Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) assessment, as it was in 2019.
NTU is a top 10 for sport (British Universities and Colleges Sport league table 2023).
NTU is the most environmentally sustainable university in the UK and second in the world (UI Green Metric University World Rankings, 2023).