The behaviour change team at Four designed and delivered an exciting partnership and PR campaign to inspire interest and consideration in becoming an FE teacher.
The Department for Education’s Teach in Further Education campaign aims to inspire industry professionals to consider sharing their existing skills and experience through teaching in FE – across a wide range of sectors – one of which is engineering.
We secured an in-kind partnership with McLaren, joining forces in a combined mission to produce a strong pipeline of talent for the sector. Tapping into the popularity of the F1, the Skills Drive competition showcased FE teachers’ vital role in sharing their skills to inspire other industry professionals to consider teaching in FE. Engineering and FE teachers from across England were invited to enter the competition. Entrants completed a short form showcasing how they share their skills to inspire their students. Judges from the Department for Education and McLaren selected three finalists, who competed in the final at The McLaren Technology Centre (MTC) in Woking.
The three stages of the competition: the call for entries, shortlist announcement and the final provided three ample opportunities to engage media and stakeholders with our message. We secured 107 pieces of coverage including national, broadcast, regional and trade coverage for the competition.
FE teachers and students from Blackpool and Fylde College, Basingstoke College of Technology, and City College Norwich took part in a final challenge, which tested their skills through a series of workstations simulating processes from McLaren’s production line.
As part of the experience, all three teams toured McLaren’s facility, enjoyed a ride in McLaren supercars, and were awarded a McLaren engineering masterclass for their colleges.
Blackpool and Fylde College were named the winners of the Skills Drive.
Key stakeholders including The Royal Academy of Engineers & Engineering UK shared content and messaging across their channels.
The final event was attended by Minister for Skills Jacqui Smith, as well as McLaren’s CEO Michael Leiters.
Jacqui Smith, Minister of State for Skills, congratulated the participants on the day, saying:
“Many congratulations to Blackpool and Fylde College and their student team for winning the Skills Drive final. All finalists demonstrated impressive skill and knowledge, highlighting the important role FE teachers play in preparing students for the workplace. There is a great opportunity for industry professionals to share their expertise and help develop the future workforce through FE teaching. Whether in engineering, automotive, or another sector, FE offers a range of opportunities to match different skills and experience.”
