Over 100 students in St Helens donned VR headsets to virtually step inside a glass plant as part of ‘Together to Zero’ a project to raise career aspirartions in STEM and the advanced manufacturing sector.

Led by St Helens Chamber, we worked in partnership with St Helens Council to deliver sessions across six schools, teaching students about the history of glass and current challenges around decarbonisation and recycling. Watch the video.

Grace Babalola, Glass Futures Process Engineer, who led the sessions said: “It was fantastic to meet the young people and show them the possibilities of future employment right on their doorstep and within the sector around the world.

“There is a huge opportunity for the local economy to gain the skills needed to create clean and green growth within the region. Glass Futures is accelerating research and development for sustainable manufacturing processes and a large part of that is educating and training the next generation.

“St Helens has an incredible heritage in innovative manufacturing, and by up-skilling the local economy in net zero and decarbonisation principles this initiative will create a sustainable legacy for future generations.”

Funded by the UK Community Renewal Fund, ‘Together to Zero’ is supporting businesses across St Helens to become greener as part of Liverpool City Region’s commitment to be net zero carbon by 2040.