Specialised Canvas welcomed Year 12 students from Netherthorpe School to its Chesterfield manufacturing facility today as part of National Manufacturing Day 2026, organised by Make UK.

Specialised Canvas was one of the founding supporters of National Manufacturing Day and has participated in the initiative throughout its four-year history.

The annual event encourages manufacturers across the UK to open their doors to schools, colleges, and local communities, helping young people gain a better understanding of modern manufacturing and the wide range of careers available within the sector.

During their visit, the Netherthorpe School students were given a full tour of the Specialised Canvas production facility, seeing at first hand the technology, equipment and skills involved in large-format printing, cutting, finishing and fabrication.

The students then took part in two practical challenges designed to demonstrate both the commercial and creative aspects of manufacturing.

The first, the Sustainability Challenge, asked the students to nest a series of components onto a sheet of material as quickly and efficiently as possible. The exercise demonstrated how effective production planning and nesting can reduce material consumption, minimise waste and improve manufacturing efficiency.

Students then progressed to the Banner Box Challenge, where they were asked to create their own freestanding display cube.

Working in teams, the students developed an initial concept before taking it through the complete manufacturing process, including design, printing, digital cutting, and final fabrication.

The completed displays were judged by Specialised Canvas Managing Director Paul Noble and Marketing Manager Simon Butterworth, with prizes presented for the most creative design and for the overall winning team.

Paul Noble, Managing Director of Specialised Canvas, said:

“National Manufacturing Day is a great opportunity to show young people what manufacturing actually looks like today. It is increasingly technology-led, creative and highly skilled, but there is no substitute for allowing students to come into a factory and experience that environment for themselves.

“We have supported National Manufacturing Day from the beginning, and four years on it is fantastic to see the initiative continuing to grow. The students from Netherthorpe approached both challenges with real enthusiasm, and there were some excellent ideas among the finished projects.”

The visit formed part of Specialised Canvas’s wider commitment to promoting careers within manufacturing and helping young people understand the range of opportunities available within the sector.

Paul Noble added:

“Manufacturers need to engage with the next generation if we are going to develop the skills our industry will need in the future. Days like this allow students to see the combination of design, technology, engineering, production, and sustainability that goes into modern manufacturing.”

National Manufacturing Day is coordinated by Make UK, The Manufacturers’ Organisation, and sees manufacturers around the country host activities designed to showcase the sector and inspire future talent.