20 May 2025
Minerals Matter has gone from strength to strength during 2024, engaging with industry and education to attract young people and greater diversity to the Mineral products Sector. With over 100 ambassadors providing outreach to education and the provision of resources and support by Minerals Matter, we are seeing real results. In 2024, 440 hours of activity were delivered across 101 schools and 19,899 students were reached.
The impact being made is undoubtedly positive, but with an estimated third of the workforce leaving through retirement in the next 10 years and a need for new skills to meet the sustainability, technological and digital challenges ahead, our efforts must continue and increase.
The Big Bang Fair is the UK’s largest celebration of STEM for schools, and it aims to inspire young people into STEM related careers. This year, it is being held at the NEC, Birmingham across three days (17th-19th June). For the first time, Minerals Matter will be promoting the Mineral Products sector, supported by Tarmac, Heidelberg and Cemex. This is a fantastic opportunity to put Mineral Products on the map alongside other industries and showcase the essential nature of the industry and the exciting range of career opportunities available across multiple organisations.
The event is hands on in nature, providing a wide range of interactive activities, workshops and live shows. The Mineral Matters stand will provide interactive activities associated with some of the roles available within the industry, to provide a flavour of what might be involved day to day.
We will be introducing students to our ‘Mineral Mission’ activity to find the missing mineral via a series of clues and challenges.
Cemex will be explaining about ‘Curious Concrete’, an opportunity for students to learn about different minerals used in the production of concrete.
‘Digging and Driving’ is a simulated experience for students to use an excavator on a quarry site and load a tipper truck presented by Heidelberg Materials UK.
Tarmac will also be using VR headsets for their ‘Immersive quarry’ experience where young people can be transported to a working quarry environment. Then, finally, ‘Workwear Ready’ gives students the opportunity to try on a range of protective clothing, essential for safe working on site.
The idea will be to engage and inspire the young people, so they leave feeling enthused and excited about a possible future career within our sector.
Hannah Higley, Minerals Matter said “ we are excited to be attending the Big Bang Fair for the very first time, supported by Tarmac, Heidelberg and Cemex. We are looking forward to working with our colleagues from across the industry to showcase the sector to so many young people. There will be apprentices and ambassadors present to talk to young people about their experiences, as well as a fantastic opportunity for everyone to network”
Follow @MineralsMatter on LinkedIn to see further updates of our activity and the Big Bang 2025.