JLH's British Steel Rail Tour

Few people get to see a steelworks from its own railway line. As part of National Manufacturing Day, students from John Leggott Humber were invited onsite at British Steel for a rail tour of the campus, a rare look at the industry behind many of the post-16 options that students in Immingham are working towards.

The tour was led by Andy, who shared insights from nearly 20 years of industry experience. Students came away with a clearer picture of how steel is made and what a career in manufacturing really involves.

What is National Manufacturing Day?

National Manufacturing Day is an annual UK-wide open house, led by Make UK, when manufacturers invite schools, colleges and the public behind the scenes to see modern manufacturing and the careers it offers.

It now takes place every year on the last Thursday in September, and in 2026 that was Thursday 24 September. (Source: National Manufacturing Day, Make UK) 

This was the fifth National Manufacturing Day, and companies take part in different ways, including site tours, live demonstrations, careers talks and hands-on activities. For JLH students, it meant a chance to step inside one of the best-known employers in the region. thecea

What did JLH students see on the tour?

JLH students toured the British Steel campus by rail, learning about the steelmaking process as they travelled around the site.

The scale is hard to picture until you see it. British Steel's Scunthorpe works has an internal railway network of around 100 miles. (Source: Appleby Frodingham Railway) Seeing the site this way helped students understand how the different stages of steelmaking connect. 

What did students learn about working at British Steel?

Alongside the steelmaking process, JLH students learned about life at British Steel, including the company's culture, work-life balance and career opportunities.

Andy's experience gave students a real-world view of the industry. Students also had the chance to ask their own questions, helping them build their knowledge of the manufacturing sector and think about where they might fit into it. (Source: British Steel)

How does the visit fit into the JLH year?

The British Steel visit is one of several ways JLH students connect with local industry during the 2026/27 academic year.

British Steel is one of JLH's industry partners. Earlier this term, students also heard from Graham, who shared his 31 years of experience at British Steel. [Read the story here]

Experiences like these sit alongside guaranteed work experience placements and the GCSE English, maths and Level 2 qualifications students work towards. 

Together, they prepare students for their next step into an apprenticeship, where you train with an employer while earning a wage, a Level 3 course or employment.

You can find out more about how the year works on the Fresh Start Programme at John Leggott Humber page.

A huge thank you to British Steel and to Andy for creating such a tailored and memorable experience for our students.