Year 9 students from Anthony Gell School in Wirksworth have enjoyed a unique behind the scenes view of careers in the quarrying industry through a visit to nearby Longcliffe Quarries Ltd.

The visit to Longcliffe was one of the five options given to the students as part of their Key Stage 3 Careers Week. The visits give students an insight into a range of potential future careers. And many were surprised to discover that the Longcliffe quarries produce over 100 essential limestone products for use in areas from animal feeds to construction.

The group’s visit included the company’s training room, laboratory, Brassington Moor Quarry and transport depot where they heard about careers in processing, production, engineering, science and logistics.

Longcliffe’s Health and Safety Manager and organiser of the day, Tony Woodroffe said: “As the third largest employer in the Derbyshire Dales we are committed to developing and maintaining strong links with local schools.  We find that giving students a first-hand introduction to our operations is the best way to show the vast range of careers on offer. We hope we have given these students food for thought and maybe inspired some to consider a career with us when they leave education.”

Comments from the students included:

• “I didn’t realise quarrying involved so much science – seeing the lab was really cool and not what I expected.”
• “My favourite part was seeing the huge machines and learning how everything is done safely.”
• “The visit was really interesting and made me think about jobs I didn’t even know existed.”

Anthony Gell School Teacher Jay Grindey adds: “The visit was an excellent opportunity for students to see how the skills they learn in school link directly to real-world careers. Experiences like this help broaden their aspirations and make future pathways feel more tangible, we’re incredibly grateful for the opportunity and are looking forward to working with Longcliffe again in the future.”