Inspiring the Future at Nissan: 10 Years of the Skills Foundation

Ten years. 100,000 students. More than 500 schools. And it all started with one workshop.

Since 2014, the Nissan Skills Foundation has been transforming how students engage with science, technology, engineering, and maths. What began with a single Monozukuri Caravan workshop, teaching the manufacturing basics, has grown into a movement that helps young people turn curiosity into industry-leading careers. Students don’t just learn about the future, they build it.

Step inside a Skills Foundation session and you’ll see students programming robots, tackling real-world engineering challenges, and bringing creative solutions to life. More than 65% of participants are girls aged 7–13, proving that STEM is for anyone with the curiosity to explore and create. And the impact goes beyond the classroom, with many former students now working at Nissan.

Behind every career sparked, and every future shaped is a team of EV36Heroes —educators, trainers and mentors guiding the next generation.

For Jen Lloyd, a leader in Learning and Development at the plant, the numbers tell part of the story, but the real achievement is what those statistics represent. “With 100,000 students coming through the Skills Foundation the impact is immeasurable. That’s more than 100,000 moments of inspiration, possibilities, and futures shaped. It’s bigger than Nissan, it’s about building something that lasts.”

For Jess Corrigan, School Liaison Officer, the past 10 years have been a journey of growth – not just for the programme, but for herself. “I started at 17 when this was just one event. Now, it’s expanded year after year, reaching more students and more schools. Seeing students come back years later, saying the foundation helped them discover their career path – that to me is the real impact.”

And for Lois Heywood, School Liaison Support, the experience is personal. “I remember being a student in the foundation, taking part in a LEGO assembly challenge. I didn’t think I’d work in engineering back then, but seeing female engineers leading the course changed my perspective. Now, I get to be that person for the next generation.”

To mark 10 years of inspiration, the Skills Foundation hosted its largest-ever interactive STEM event, bringing together more than 200 students on the factory floor at Nissan Sunderland. The energy in the room was electric as students took part in their own production line, building a special version of the Nissan Qashqai from LEGO bricks, turning classroom learning into real-world action.

The anniversary also marked the announcement of Nissan’s expansion plan for the foundation, doubling its capacity to allow 16,000 students per year to enjoy STEM learning opportunities.

Nissan isn’t stopping there. The company is leading a consortium of industry, academia and local government to establish MADE NE. Representing a £14.6m investment, MADE NE will create a skills and industrial innovation hub providing clear pathways into manufacturing including apprenticeships, education and school engagement programmes delivering industry-informed training and education to support the long-term needs of the region’s automotive industry. 

Aligned with Nissan’s EV36Zero vision, it’s not just preparing students for careers in STEM, it’s equipping them with the skills to drive the future of electrification and sustainable mobility.

EV36Zero is Nissan’s blueprint to transform Sunderland Plant into a flagship EV hub, bringing together electric vehicles, renewable energy and battery production.

Want to meet more of our EV36Heroes? Read about how Nissan is rewilding the Sunderland Plant and stay tuned for more inspiring stories!