Wolf Welcomes Local Schools for National Manufacturing Day
Welcoming the next generation of talent into our Sheffield factory as part of National Manufacturing Day
On Thursday 25th September, National Manufacturing Day 2025, we were delighted to welcome students from Sheffield City Centre UTC and Yewlands Academy as part of the nationwide celebration, led by Make UK, designed to showcase the diverse career opportunities within modern British manufacturing.
A total of 34 students and teachers – 17 from each school – visited Wolf’s Sheffield headquarters to experience first-hand what it means to be part of one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of ATEX and IECEx certified portable and installed lighting.
A packed visit began with a warm welcome and an introduction to Wolf’s 100+ years history and heritage, followed by a talk highlighting how Wolf products are used across industries worldwide. Students were then taken on a factory tour, where they saw our skilled workforce in action and the processes behind creating lighting equipment that operates safely in Hazardous Areas around the world.
Some of the students from UTC Sheffield City Centre
Some of the students from Yewlands Academy, Sheffield
Wolf’s former apprentices shared their own experiences, giving an insight into the training, development, and career paths available to young people entering manufacturing. The agenda also included a session with our Research & Development team, where students learned how new ideas are turned into innovative products, before ending with a wrap-up Q&A session.
Manufacturing contributes £224 billion to the UK economy, supports 2.6 million jobs, and is responsible for 41% of national R&D investment. Yet, many manufacturers face a shortage of skills and a perception gap among young people. National Manufacturing Day provides a chance to inspire the next generation and demonstrate how exciting, rewarding and varied careers in manufacturing can be.
Wolf's Sales and Marketing Director, Miles Jackson, said:
We were delighted to host students from Sheffield City Centre UTC and Yewlands Academy for National Manufacturing Day. Wolf has been part of the Sheffield community for generations, and it was a privilege to show the next generation the breadth of opportunities manufacturing can offer — from engineering and design to marketing, R&D, and production.
Wolf is proud to be part of this national celebration, continuing our commitment to supporting young people and investing in the future of UK manufacturing.
You can learn more about National Manufacturing Day on the Make UK website
Students are given an overview of product development at Wolf Safety
Former apprentices answer questions on their experiences at Wolf Safety
Students were given a factory tour as part of their visit