Minerals Matter: A Year of Expanding Impact in Education and Outreach

13 November, 2025

Teacher Encounter Day at Breedon’s Dowlow Quarry

First published in the November 2025 issue of Quarry Management

New data from Minerals Matter shows the powerful impact of what can be achieved through collaboration between industry and education

Minerals Matter has published new data for work completed over the past 12 months. The figures demonstrate that Minerals Matter has delivered an ambitious and wide-reaching programme of outreach, engagement, and education, connecting young people, educators, and communities with the vital world of minerals and mining and the careers that power it. The scale and impact of this work have grown significantly, with substantial increases in ambassador activity, school engagement, and digital reach.

‘This year’s figures show the powerful impact of what can be achieved through collaboration between industry and education. We’re proud to be reaching more young people than ever before and helping them discover exciting career opportunities in our sectors,’ said Hannah Higley, future careers manager at Minerals Matter.

Ambassador Network: Record growth and reach

At the heart of the programme is the ever-expanding Minerals Matter Ambassador Network, which has grown to 115 approved ambassadors, up from 62 the previous academic year, an 81% increase.

This dedicated group of industry professionals completed 207 outreach activities (nearly tripling last year’s total of 73), collectively reaching 78,710 participants, a staggering 881% rise from the 8,030 reached in the previous year.

Ambassadors contributed 641 activity hours, up from 216 last year, and engaged with 163 schools (a 279% increase) and eight non-school groups, demonstrating a strong commitment to widening participation across diverse educational settings.

Not only are the ambassadors making a real difference on the ground, but they are also developing their own careers and skillsets as a result. ‘As an ambassador, it’s been incredibly enjoyable and rewarding to inspire students who had never even heard of our industry before. These outreach sessions are changing perceptions and opening eyes to careers they wouldn’t otherwise consider,’ said Minerals Matter ambassador Ian Cross of Heidelberg Materials.

Ambassador programme impact (year-on-year comparison)

Ambassador-led engagements

In addition, Minerals Matter ambassadors have been active in leading both virtual and in-person skills development and knowledge.

Imerys Minerals, for example, include seven Minerals Matter ambassadors in their team, providing support as enterprise advisors to three local schools to help shape and strengthen their careers programmes. Their 2024/25 academic year saw its highest-ever level of engagement with schools and colleges across Cornwall and the South West. The company hosted 38 work experience placements across its sites in Devon and Cornwall, giving students hands-on exposure to roles in engineering, finance, IT, science, geology, surveying, and planning and logistics. Throughout the year, the company’s ambassadors also attended 17 careers events and talks for students from Year 3 to Year 11.

‘Our outreach isn’t just about promotion, it’s about providing meaningful experiences, resources, and role models to help students and teachers see the real-world value of what we do,’ said Lisa Saunders, director of Lisa Saunders Consultancy.

Connecting with students across the UK

Minerals Matter delivered several impactful face-to-face and broadcast experiences which played a crucial role in raising awareness of career pathways in the minerals, mining, and quarrying industries.

In June, Minerals Matter collaborated with industry, including Tarmac, Heidelberg Materials, Cemex, Future Is Mine, and the University of Derby’s Centre for Mineral Products, to attend the Big Bang Fair, the UK’s leading event for STEM careers for school and college students. Over three days, Minerals Matter engaged, face-to-face, with more than 5,000 young people and their teachers, introducing them to the importance of the mineral products sector and highlighting career opportunities.

Over three days at the Big Bang Fair, Minerals Matter engaged, face-to-face, with more than 5,000 young people and their teachers

‘The enthusiasm of the young people we met and the new network of teachers we created ensures that the event will see a number of follow-up activities for our ambassadors, building strong relationships with educators on a sustained basis,’ said Hannah Higley.

Earlier in the year, Minerals Matter teamed up with Careers Live for a national broadcast to more than 8,000 students as part of National Apprenticeship Week.

Getting students on site to see, first hand, what the industry is all about is also essential and highlights included an open day at Cemex in Southampton where 60 students from Year 10 and 12 enjoyed a site tour.

Resources: Tools to inspire the next generation

To support hands-on learning, Minerals Matter has developed and distributed several useful resources for ambassadors to take into primary and secondary schools and colleges as part of the outreach programme.

A major collaboration with Future Is Mine, following the inspiration of Ben Lepley of SLR Consulting, has resulted in the creation of 12 Mineral Mission boxes, stocked with a variety of minerals and lesson plans that can be delivered in a classroom setting.

Recently, Imerys and Cornish Lithium plc have kindly donated minerals and rocks, including quartz, malachite, wolframite, and lithium granite samples to help support Minerals Matter partners. These minerals will be used for hands-on activities with schools across the country.

‘Minerals Matter is helping to break long-standing myths about our industry. By bringing real people from the sector into classrooms and careers events, they’re showing students the diversity and sustainability focus of careers in mining and mineral products,’ added Lisa Saunders.

Teacher engagement: Supporting career conversations in classrooms

Recognizing the vital role of educators in career guidance, Minerals Matter significantly expanded its teacher engagement.

John Austin, senior lecturer in Mineral Products Technology at the Centre for Mineral Products, University of Derby, said: ‘It is vital to engage with teachers as they are pivotal in talking to future generations of students about career opportunities. Their voices and guidance can be so influential, so it is important that we expand our Teacher Encounter Days in order that they can better understand all that the mineral products and mining sectors have to offer.’

To this end, Minerals Matter supported Breedon plc, EMCCA Careers Hub, and the University of Derby in connecting 12 teachers, careers leads, and advisors from across Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire with key players in the minerals industry to increase their knowledge and awareness of the sector.

The day was hosted at Breedon’s Dowlow Quarry near Buxton in July and included a talk about the work they do in offering a range of apprenticeships, as well as time to meet with apprentices to learn more about their roles and why they chose the apprenticeship pathways.

Minerals Matter also created a UCAS campaign targeting more than 4,000 teachers, careers leads, and advisors and is developing a sector-specific web page on the UCAS website.

‘The resources and hands-on experiences provided by Minerals Matter are exactly what teachers need to link classroom learning with real-world opportunities. The teacher encounter day helped me understand the wide variety of roles available and how to bring that back to my students,’ said Kelly Brown of Shirebrook Academy.

Industry presence: Raising visibility at key events

Reinforcing the need to promote future skills for the essential needs of succession in minerals and mining, Minerals Matter has maintained a strong presence across major industry events, including:

MPA regional meetings (North and Midlands)
MPA Wales Conference
UK Mining Conference
Critical Industry Society Conference
Midlands Institute of Mining Engineers Conference
Geo Resources Futures Day
IQ Midlands CPD Day
IQ Fellows’ Lunch.

Minerals Matter will also be supporting MAUK – The Mining Association of the United Kingdom – which is partnering with Resourcing Tomorrow to support the NextGen Leaders Programme in London in December.

The event offers a fantastic opportunity for students to attend by receiving a complimentary NextGen Student Pass. This will provide full access to the event, which is designed specifically for emerging professionals looking to build a career in the mining and resources sector. The event will feature more than 2,000 attendees and 300 experts across three conference theatres, covering innovation, sustainability, and the future of the sector.

Suzie Doe, industry ambassador co-ordinator

The new partnership between MAUK and Minerals Matter has developed this year to include a new emphasis on the mining sector as well as mineral products, with MAUK supplying funding to Minerals Matter for the appointment of Suzie Doe as an industry ambassador co-ordinator. Ms Doe has added her knowledge and network of mining contacts to the work of Minerals Matter.

Legislation and the future of work experience

At a recent Minerals Matter Ambassador Network meeting, Abdul Bathin from The Careers & Enterprise Company talked through the Government’s plans to change the requirements for work experience to span across Year 7– Year 11 (KS3 & KS4) instead of just one block in Year 11. The aim is to improve the standards of work experience so that young people can reflect, engage, and participate in activities with real purpose and relevance.

Minerals Matter has published a blog on its website about the new expectations and how businesses can provide inspiring and meaningful exposure to the minerals and mining industry.

Digital engagement: Growing the online community

Minerals Matter has also actively engaged on digital platforms, including the launch of a new Tik Tok channel in 2025, signalling a move to engage younger audiences on platforms they use most.

It has also gained 687 new LinkedIn followers, a 42% year-on-year growth, whilst 3,700 new users have been attracted to the Minerals Matter website, downloading 409 file resources available to ambassadors on the site. Job profiles have also been viewed 663 times on the website.

Memorandum of understanding: Women in Mining

As 2025 ends, Minerals Matter continues to grow its partnerships, including a new memorandum of understanding with Women in Mining, a key organization highlighting the significant contribution of women to the sector and the need for diversity within workforces.

In November Women in Mining will visit Longcliffe Quarry, Ecton Mine, and The National Stone Centre with Minerals Matter. Also, in the New Year the organization will be focusing on females in mineral products and mining, case studying key projects and individuals.

From doubling ambassador numbers to multiplying the number of students reached tenfold, 2024/25 has marked a transformational leap forward for Minerals Matter

A year of great impact

From doubling ambassador numbers to multiplying the number of students reached tenfold, this year has marked a transformational leap forward for Minerals Matter. The team’s efforts have not only increased awareness of the minerals and quarrying industries but have also helped inspire the next generation of geoscientists, engineers, and environmental stewards.

As the demand for critical minerals grows alongside the global push for green infrastructure and sustainable development, initiatives such as Minerals Matter are more important than ever – ensuring young people are informed, inspired, and ready to play their part.

‘The growth in participation this year shows that Minerals Matter is not only reaching more people, but also making a measurable difference in how the industry is perceived by the next generation,’ said James Thorne, joint chief executive officer of the Institute of Quarrying (IQ) and Mineral Products Qualifications Council (MPQC).