Year 9 students from Erdington Academy had an unforgettable experience at last week’s REACH Out event in partnership with Jaguar Land Rover.
Joined by peers from Greenwood Academy and CORE Arena Academy, they explored the world of automotive innovation, met industry professionals, and got hands-on with cutting‑edge vehicles including a Range Rover Sport and Land Rover Defender.
The day featured interactive presentations, a careers-focused Q&A panel, and real conversations with JLR experts, opening doors to new possibilities and sparking genuine ambition.
Ignatious Kaku, co‑founder of JLR’s REACH Network, is passionate about opening doors for young people from underrepresented backgrounds and helping them see themselves in careers they may never have previously imagined. During his visit he shared:
“We are privileged to be able to come into schools and really inspire the students and tell them all about the wide array of careers that we have available at JLR within engineering and especially outside of engineering, to open their minds as to the opportunities available to them. A really wonderful part of the programme is being able to build that pipeline of talent that is coming into JLR.”
Planned since summer 2025, the event reflects the academy’s strong commitment to delivering high‑quality careers education. Students benefited from meaningful encounters with employers, gaining first‑hand insight into pathways within the automotive and engineering sectors.
Feedback was extremely positive, with many students particularly inspired by the opportunity to engage directly with industry experts.
Erdington Academy looks forward to building on this success and continuing to provide impactful, real‑world careers experiences that raise aspirations and support students in shaping their futures.
