Throughout May, teachers and educators took part in a series of workplace visits organised by Ayrshire Chamber’s Education Team. The aim was to help them see how their subjects connect directly to real-world industries. 

Visits were arranged to Neogen, GE Caledonian, Wallace McDowall, and Ardagh Glass, with subject-specific teachers matched to relevant employers. For example: 

• Technical teachers toured Wallace McDowall 

• Maths teachers visited GE Caledonian 

• Science teachers visited Neogen 

• A mixed group of teachers and SDS Careers Advisors explored Ardagh Glass to gain insights into the glass sector and the process of bottle manufacturing 

At Ardagh Glass, Allen Paterson, Operations Manager, opened the visit with a presentation on the Irvine plant’s history and the tradition of glassmaking on the site, before leading a guided tour of the facility. 

Drew Grant, HR Business Partner, shared valuable information on careers, recruitment, and apprenticeship opportunities within the company. 

Pictured is the group kitted out in PPE ready for their tour.