Nissan Motor Manufacturing (UK), which makes the Leaf electric vehicle at its Sunderland plant (along with the Juke, Nismo and Note models), is to expand its involvement with local schools.

The automotive company is to lay on a range of workshops, competitions, practical activities and facility tours for more than 15,000 students over the next two years.

Under the umbrella of the Nissan Skills Foundation, the initiatives include sponsorship of F1 in Schools and involvement in the Industrial Cadets programme for pre-GCSE pupils, plus an expansion of the Nissan Blue Citizenship Eco Schools programme, which teaches students about the company’s approach to finding solutions to global environmental issues.

In addition, Nissan is now expanding its Monozukuri Caravan workshops for Year 6 pupils (aged 10-11), which is a hands-on workshop (monozukuri is the Japanese term for ‘the art of making things’). Over 1,000 pupils attended a Monozukuri Caravan event in 2013, and the scheme is fully booked to the end of this year.

Kevin Fitzpatrick, Nissan’s vice-president for manufacturing in the UK, said: “The Nissan Skills Foundation has been created to inspire the next generation of British design, engineering and manufacturing talent.

"There are many elements of this wider programme, which will be the focus of our community activity in North East England and will excite many thousands of young people about science and engineering.”

Schools that have already visited the Sunderland plant include Swalwell Primary in Gateshead. Deputy head Peter Hampson said: “The children gain so much from the experience they have here with Nissan. They learn teamwork skills, they learn all about the possibility of careers in industry, and they learn about the production process. They just really love every single second they spend here.”

A dedicated Nissan Skills Foundation team at the Sunderland plant will support schools by explaining the different activities that they can access and the careers available in manufacturing. For more information, contact Heather Corrigan ().