In January 2026, Connect Northumberland brought together educators, employers and community leaders at Renolit’s world-class manufacturing facility in Cramlington for a morning of honest, inspiring conversation about one of the most important questions facing our county: how do we help young people move confidently from classroom to career?
The event sat at the very heart of what our Connect Inspires programme is built to do. Connect Inspires exists because we know that for too many young people in Northumberland, the careers available right on their doorstep are simply invisible. They don’t know what local employers do, what opportunities exist, or that those opportunities are accessible to them. Bridging that gap between education and employment, between aspiration and reality is what drives everything we do.
Events like this one are a vital part of making that happen. Before we can inspire young people, the employers and educators who shape their world need to be aligned, motivated and working together with a shared sense of purpose. That is exactly what the morning at Renolit was about.
Charlie Nettle, MD of AV Dawson, and Katrina Morley, Chief Executive of Tees Valley Education, shared bold ideas and practical insights on how collaboration between schools, employers and communities can unlock aspiration and opportunity for the next generation. Their conversation was honest, energising and full of the kind of thinking that doesn’t happen enough when employers and educators are kept in separate rooms.
Guests were also treated to a behind-the-scenes tour of Renolit’s facility. A vivid reminder of the quality of opportunity that exists in Northumberland and the importance of making sure young people can actually see it.
The morning reinforced something we hear time and again from our community: the will to work together is there. What young people need is for us to show up, open our doors and show them what’s possible. Connect Inspires is how we make that happen.
