Local Business Leaders Return to Ysgol y Grango to Inspire Students

Former students of Ysgol y Grango in Rhosllanerchrugog have headed back to their old school with a mission to inspire current students, boost their confidence in future careers, open their mind to the local opportunities and motivate them to pursue academic and personal success.

Craig Weeks, Operations Director at JCB Transmissions Wrexham and founder of the Wrexham Leadership Alliance, with Julian Hughes, owner of Wrexham-based Gatewen Training Services and founder of the North East Wales Skills Academy, are now influential local employers. However, they have never forgotten where their career journeys began. The pair are committed to engaging with local schools to provide students in Years 9, 10 and 11 with meaningful career advice, helping them make informed decisions about their futures. Both Craig and Julian have been back to Ysgol y Grango recently to share insights into their educational and professional journeys.

As part of this initiative, pupils from Ysgol y Grango recently visited the JCB Transmissions factory on the Wrexham Industrial Estate. There, they toured JCB’s state-of-the-art facilities to understand the world of work, from assembly, engineering and finance to advanced manufacturing, before heading over to the North East Wales Skills Academy to try out driving simulators.

These advanced simulators offer students hands-on experience across six sectors: Transportation, Construction, Agriculture, Forestry, Emergency Vehicles, and Traffic. Pupils tackled exercises that simulated operating articulated lorries, ambulances, combine harvesters, and forklifts — an exciting glimpse into a variety of career pathways.

Julian Hughes emphasised the importance of such experiences:
“It’s crucial to engage pupils early in understanding the range of possibilities available to them and broaden their horizons. Along with Craig and the team at JCB, we are now in the process of developing a bespoke Vocational Skills Programme (VSP) for Year 9, 10 and 11 pupils at Ysgol y Grango and also at Ysgol Morgan Llwyd”

Craig Weeks highlighted the broader mission behind this collaboration:
“We want to challenge students to explore non-traditional career paths and overcome stereotypes that might limit their aspirations. By working together, we aim to boost their confidence and motivation to succeed. Wales faces significant challenges, including economic activity and job availability, and this collaboration is a step towards ensuring future generations can thrive at every level. Businesses must not forget that today’s students are our future employees and local businesses must support where possible for their own future growth “

Headteacher Miss Victoria Brown expressed immense pride in the alumni who have returned to support the school community.

“We are incredibly grateful for this opportunity which has benefited our students and reinforced the importance of how businesses can play a crucial role in shaping the future of education and career development. 

All students who participated in the event were unanimous in their enthusiasm, finding the experience insightful and inspiring. It allowed them to gain a deeper understanding of the diverse range of careers available right on their doorstep. 

We are delighted to be part of this programme from the outset and we look forward to seeing how this partnership grows and evolves in the years to come to benefit our learners at Ysgol y Grango.”