National Manufacturing Day at Tornado Wire inspires future engineers

Tornado Wire opened the doors of its Millom factory to local students as part of Make UK’s National Manufacturing Day 2026, building on the success of the company’s first National Manufacturing Day event last year.

This year’s event was even bigger, with more students from Millom Secondary School taking part, alongside pupils from local primary schools. Some 119 students from four schools visited the Millom site.

For Tornado Wire, the impact of last year’s event already went beyond the day itself. Since visiting the factory, three students from Millom Secondary School returned to Tornado Wire to complete work experience placements, strengthening the company’s links with the school and giving the students an opportunity to experience working life within a local manufacturing business.

During their visit, students toured the factory, saw manufacturing machinery in action and met members of the Tornado team. They also learnt about the different skills and roles needed to run a modern manufacturing business – from engineering, production and maintenance to sales, marketing, finance and other professional careers.

Rebecca Galley, Chief Executive Officer of Tornado Wire, commented: “We took part in National Manufacturing Day for the first time last year and it was fantastic to welcome local young people into Tornado Wire and show them what happens inside a manufacturing business on their doorstep.”

She continued: “What’s been particularly rewarding is seeing that relationship continue. Since then, three students from Millom Secondary School have come back to us for work experience, and this year we’re expecting even more students from the school to join us, as well as pupils from local primary schools. That’s exactly what we hoped National Manufacturing Day could achieve. If young people have never been inside a factory, it’s difficult for them to know what modern manufacturing is really like or to imagine themselves working in it. Opening our doors gives them the chance to meet our people, see what we do and discover just how many different career opportunities there are.

“We’re delighted that the event is growing and that we were able to play our part in inspiring the next generation here in our local community.”

Tornado Wire has manufactured fencing products in Millom since 1982 and today supplies high tensile steel fencing for agricultural, equestrian, forestry and infrastructure applications. The event is part of Tornado Wire’s wider commitment to supporting education, developing future skills and strengthening its links with the local community.

National Manufacturing Day is organised by Make UK, the manufacturers’ organisation, and brings together manufacturers across the country to showcase the innovation, technology and career opportunities within UK industry.

The event was attended by Michelle Scrogham MP, Member of Parliament for Barrow and Furness, who toured the facility and met with students and employees. We were also pleased to welcome Palletline HMT Group. Representatives from Barrow & District Association of Engineers (BDAE) also joined the afternoon session, helping to demonstrate the breadth of opportunities available within the manufacturing and engineering sectors.

Michelle, said: “Wonderful to see the dynamic work going on at Tornado, and another local business with a healthy order book. It was a pleasure to join pupils from Millom being shown the manufacturing, which the team really brought to life. I’d love to see more engineering businesses engage with students in this way to encourage more careers in STEM. Who knew we made fencing for everything from cows and sheep to reindeer, polar bears and lions right here in Millom?”