23 October 2025
Case Study provided by John Austin, Senior Lecturer, Centre for Mineral Products & Minerals Matter STEM Ambassador and Charlotte Bushell, Education and Employment Adviser, East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) Careers Hub.
At Minerals Matter, we are committed to strengthening the connection between education and the minerals industry and since teachers play such a pivotal role in shaping young people’s aspirations and career choices, supporting them to access industry insights is essential.
That’s why we were pleased to support the recent Teacher Encounter Day at Dowlow Quarry, delivered by EMCCA Careers Hub in collaboration with Breedon Group and University of Derby. While Minerals Matter weren’t responsible for running the day, we were proud to back an initiative that brings education and industry closer together.
Supporting Teachers to Inspire Career Pathways
With the updated Gatsby Charitable Foundation Benchmarks coming into effect in September 2025, there is an increased focus on embedding careers education across the curriculum. Research from The Sutton Trust highlights that only 6% of teachers feel adequately prepared by their initial training to support students with career development. That’s a big gap—especially when we know how much influence teachers have on students’ decisions. Giving them access to up-to-date, real-world industry knowledge can make a real difference.
The Teacher Encounter Day at Dowlow Quarry provided an opportunity for teachers to experience how their subjects are applied within the minerals sector, to learn about diverse career pathways, and to reflect on about how to bring those insights back into the classroom.
“Teachers are the catalysts of curiosity. By engaging directly with them through the Teachers Encounters Event held at Dowlow Quarry, we wanted to bridge the gap between industry and education—empowering educators with real-world insights they can pass on to inspire the next generation of STEM talent. As a STEM ambassador, this initiative was a deliberate choice to invest in those who shape minds every day.”
— John Austin, Senior Lecturer, Centre for Mineral Products & Minerals Matter STEM Ambassador
Structure of the Day
The day focused on three key areas:
- Understanding Routes into Employment
Teachers met Breedon’s Early Careers Manager and apprentices to learn about apprenticeship structures, entry requirements and recruitment processes. - Exploring Career Opportunities in the Minerals Industry
A guided tour of Dowlow Quarry enabled participants to meet employees working in a range of roles, including quarry operatives, maintenance engineers and managers. - Embedding Career Learning into the Curriculum
A structured reflection session allowed teachers to consider how their learning could be applied in the classroom, identify potential curriculum links, and discuss future collaboration and resources.
Measurable Impact
The impact of the day was evident in participant feedback:
- 100% reported improved understanding of the skills needed for successful transitions into further education or employment.
- 100% understood the range of pathways linked to their subject, including technical and vocational options.
- 100% felt more confident discussing career pathways with students.
- 88% intended to develop activities involving employer input.
- 66% planned to embed employability skills into their teaching.
- 44% planned to create new lesson plans or schemes of work informed by the visit.
One teacher from Chesterfield College commented:
“Thank you for the opportunity to attend and tour the quarry today. It was great to learn about the extensive opportunities in the industry and the demand for future employment.”
Sustaining Engagement from Industry
Breedon Group has committed to continued engagement with the participating institutions, including follow-up interventions for pupils who express an interest in the sector. Attendees also left with resources to share within their departments, so even more schools and colleges can get involved.
Discussions are already under way to deliver a similar event closer to Derby City to broaden participation from other schools and colleges in the region.
Connecting Classrooms to Careers
We’re proud to have supported this event. It’s a great example of how meaningful encounters between education and industry can help teachers connect what they teach to real-world opportunities.
By helping teachers understand more about the minerals sector, we’re supporting them to bring careers to life in the classroom—and helping to build a skilled, diverse workforce for the future.
If you would be interested in finding out more about this initiative you can reach out to your local Careers Hub to see if they offer Teacher Encounter Days in your area, or for more information visit the Careers & Enterprise Company.