BINDT inspires next generation at the National School and College Leaver Festival
22/01/2026
On 11 and 12 November 2025, the British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing (BINDT) exhibited at the National School and College Leaver (NSCL) Festival, held at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in Birmingham. Over the course of two days, more than 20,000 students from across the UK attended the event, exploring a wide range of career and training opportunities, and many stopped by the BINDT stand to discover the exciting world of non-destructive testing (NDT). | ||
| Doug Wylie describes what NDT actually involves to curious students |
BINDT’s mission at the event was clear: to showcase the breadth of career paths within NDT and raise awareness of the vital role the industry plays in ensuring safety, quality and reliability across the engineering, transport, energy and manufacturing sectors. It was inspiring to see so many young people curious about how NDT professionals use science and technology to keep the world running safely.
Rebecca Mulholland, Outreach Coordinator at BINDT, was joined at the event by four enthusiastic volunteers: Doug Wylie, Jennifer Jobling, Lucy Turner and David Phillips from Rolls-Royce, who generously gave their time and expertise to help bring NDT to life. Together, they engaged with students, teachers and parents, answering questions about what NDT involves, the skills it requires and the training routes available. From apprenticeships and entry-level pathways to higher education and professional certification, they were able to demonstrate that NDT offers diverse routes into rewarding, future-proof careers.
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| Doug Wylie and Lucy Turner on the BINDT stand |
The BINDT stand was also equipped with a range of interactive demonstration equipment, including part of a fan blade, an ultraviolet (UV) lamp, an ultrasonics set and an eddy current set, which all proved to be a real highlight. Students were fascinated by the opportunity to get hands-on and see for themselves how science and technology combine to detect hidden flaws and ensure the integrity of critical structures. These practical demonstrations sparked many conversations and helped to make the concept of NDT tangible and exciting for the young visitors.
Throughout the two days, the team was delighted by the level of enthusiasm and engagement from the students. Many had never heard of NDT before, but by the end of their visit they were keen to learn more about apprenticeships, training programmes and how they could pursue a career in this field.
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| David Phillips and Jennifer Jobling ready to welcome students, parents and teachers to the BINDT stand |
Jennifer Jobling commented: “The NSCL Festival was a busy but enjoyable event at the NEC and a fantastic opportunity to showcase BINDT and the variety of career options for students considering further education options. It was great to engage with enthusiastic students from all over the UK with a wide range of interests, many of whom had never heard of the non-destructive evaluation (NDE) sector, and we received positive feedback from staff and students alike, with many teachers expressing interest in further outreach activities by BINDT.”
Events such as the National School and College Leaver Festival play a vital role in shaping the future workforce by connecting students with industries that need their curiosity and creativity. For BINDT, it was a fantastic opportunity to promote the sector, support the Institute’s outreach goals and continue building awareness of NDT as an exciting and meaningful career choice.
BINDT extends its thanks to the dedicated volunteers and everyone who visited its stand. Together, we helped to inspire the next generation of NDT professionals and we cannot wait to see where their journeys take them.
If you would like to join BINDT’s team of outreach volunteers, contact Rebecca at:
rebecca.mulholland@bindt.org
