‘Activate Your Curiosity’ opens doors to local careers for students
Tuesday 12 August 2025
The Mid and East Antrim Borough Council delivered Activate Your Curiosity initiative has given students behind-the-scenes tours and valuable insights into some of Northern Ireland’s top manufacturing businesses.
In June, students from several local post primary schools across the borough participated in engaging and educational visits to leading local companies, including Saint-Gobain Exterior Solutions (formerly Kilwaughter Minerals Ltd.), Moore Concrete, Wrightbus and Caterpillar.
The Activate Your Curiosity initiative - a year-long STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) programme designed to inspire young people to explore exciting career opportunities in these dynamic fields – included pupils from Larne Grammar, Ballymena Academy, Cambridge House and Carrickfergus Grammar.
Activate Your Curiosity is delivered by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council and is a ‘Making the Future’ initiative.
Headlined by Saint-Gobain Exterior Solutions and sponsored by Michelin Development, Caterpillar, Moore Concrete, Teva, Terumo, EPUKI and Phoenix Energy, the initiative is also funded by the Department of Communities’ Labour Market Partnerships which create targeted employment action plans for local council areas, allowing for collaboration at local and regional level to support people towards and into work.
A key outcome of the Mid and East Antrim Labour Market Partnership and the ‘Making the Future’ initiative has been galvanised school, company, academia and public sector relationships in the borough.
Commenting on the importance of the initiative, Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Councillor Jackson Minford said: “I am delighted to see the continuation of the Activate Your Curiosity initiative as it develops and strengthen connections between schools and local employers, equipping students with the knowledge and confidence to make informed choices about their future.
“The experience provided through the initiative gives our young people a first-hand look at life inside forward-thinking businesses and showcased the wide range of career opportunities available locally.”
During the visits, students had the chance to explore state-of-the-art facilities, engage with staff from various departments, and gain a deeper understanding of the innovative processes that drive each company’s operations.
In addition to the most recent visits in June, students from schools across the borough have benefited throughout the year from site visits to the programme sponsors, including Teva, Terumo, EPUKI, Ryobi and CAFRE College.
The Activate Your Curiosity initiative runs in line with the academic year and culminates in a flagship event each January, featuring renowned physicist Professor Brian Cox CBE FRS.
The initiative, supported by a wide range of local industry leaders, aims to ignite curiosity in young minds and showcase real-world applications of STEAM subjects.
Businesses interested in supporting the initiative, or schools keen to get involved or learn more, are encouraged to contact Christine Barnhill at E: christine.barnhill@midandeastantrim.gov.uk.