On 21st September, a group of Kimbolton pupils went on a truly unique trip. Organised by Mrs Southern from the Careers Department, seventeen Upper Sixth and Fifth Form (Year 11) Computer Science pupils visited Surface Generation, an advanced materials processing company that prototypes and manufactures cutting-edge components for the automotive, aerospace, and consumer electronics industries.
The founder and CEO of the company is Ben Halford, an Old Kimboltonian, who, together with his colleagues, went above and beyond to create a spectacular day of projects and challenges for our pupils. These challenges included programming a robot to perform surgery, testing aircraft prototypes and using statistical analysis to determine optimal design parameters, and identifying the most efficient cutting path for a CNC machine to create an aluminium component as accurately as possible. All of these challenges used the industrial machinery on site and had to be complete dunder timed conditions, which really brought out the pupils’ teamwork, problem-solving abilities, and creativity.
It was inspiring to see how Surface Generation delivered such engaging and hands-on activities, demonstrating the practical application of computers and advanced manufacturing technology. It was also incredibly generous of the company to allow our pupils to use their equipment throughout the day. This provided valuable real-world context for the theory taught in lessons.
Another invaluable aspect of the visit was the opportunity for pupils to observe how the company and its employees worked; everyone had their own strengths and specialisms and played an integral role in the company’s success. While qualifications are important, pupils saw that teamwork, attitude, and adaptability are equally valuable. They were able to appreciate that formal education is one part of the skill set they need to develop at school in preparation for life beyond it.
While visits to museums and talks from external speakers are valuable, opportunities to visit a company workplace are rare, and opportunities for pupils to spend an entire day using industry-standard equipment and learning directly from professionals are rarer still. The day itself, along with the time and effort invested in preparing it, was greatly appreciated by all. The Fifth Form pupils have been inspired to research their future careers, while the Upper Sixth pupils have already written about their experiences in their UCAS personal statements and are thinking about the possibilities of future apprenticeships and internships.
A big thank you to Ben and everyone at Surface Generation for going above and beyond to provide this invaluable experience (and for the delicious barbecue lunch!). We look forward to seeing you again at the Kimbolton Careers Fair in March.
