At Tillicoultry Quarries, we’re passionate about supporting young people and helping them explore the many opportunities available in the aggregates industry. Our recent partnership with Alva Academy is a great example of how industry and education can come together to spark curiosity, challenge assumptions, and open doors to future careers.

The initiative kicked off with a careers workshop at Alva Academy, led by TQ team members Sophia and Robert. They spoke with students about the wide range of roles available both within Tillicoultry Quarries and across the broader extractives sector. The session aimed to go beyond the usual job descriptions—highlighting real career stories, the skills needed in the industry, and breaking down some of the common stereotypes associated with quarrying.

Following the workshop, students were invited to visit our Northfield site in March. For many, it was the first time seeing how a working quarry operates—and the visit brought their classroom learning to life. They saw the extraction and processing of materials in action, learned about our rigorous health and safety standards, and gained insight into the environmental responsibilities that are central to our work.

Students also had the chance to meet team members on site, including an apprentice, Greg, who shared his personal experience of learning on the job and growing in confidence over time. Seeing the range of machinery, speaking with the team, and hearing first-hand stories gave students a much clearer picture of what a career at TQ could look like.

The response from both pupils and staff has been overwhelmingly positive. Many students left the visit with a new perspective on the industry—and a few even left with ambitions to work in it.

“Our partnership with Tillicoultry Quarries has really inspired some of our pupils and opened their eyes to the many roles available in the extractives industry,” said Rhona Skinner, DYW Coordinator at Alva Academy. “The way TQ engaged with our pupils—first in school and then by inviting them on site—was brilliant. It gave them a real flavour of what a career in this sector could look like.”

“I enjoyed our visit to Tillicoultry Quarries—it showed me a range of different opportunities. I really liked the tour with John; he was really approachable and explained a lot about the quarry.” – S6 Pupil

“The school visit from TQ was great, and the site visit to Denny made it even better. John showed us all the machinery and how the materials are processed, and we got to meet an apprentice too. It was interesting to hear how much Greg had learned and how his confidence had grown during his apprenticeship.” – S5 Pupil

Sophia Westerhuis Marshall, Director at TQ, said:

“It’s been fantastic to work so closely with a local school and help inform and inspire the next generation. The energy and interest we saw at the workshop was brilliant—and seeing that carry through to the site visit was really rewarding. We hope we’ve helped spark an interest in the sector and maybe even set a few pupils on their future career path.”

This initiative shows the real value of schools and industry working together. Through open conversations, hands-on experiences, and meaningful connections, we can help young people discover exciting, rewarding careers—and build a stronger, more sustainable future for the sector.