Companies line up to support world’s first truck trail

Businesses are lining up to support the world’s first Truck Trail, a unique project celebrating Leyland's industrial heritage.

The Truck Trail, which will be unveiled in April 2017, is designed to inspire a future generation of skilled workers while creating a striking feature for the town.

The trail celebrates more than 100 years of truck manufacturing in Leyland and will take inspiration from the success of the Superlambanana scheme in Liverpool.

Councillor Peter Mullineaux, Leader of South Ribble Borough Council, said: “The idea for the trail is absolutely fantastic – a dream for Leyland. Truck manufacturing is right at the very heart of the fabric of the town and sewn into its heritage – the very heritage which this trail will celebrate in abundance.

“We also hope to inspire a future generation with a full educational package which will run alongside the display. The designs will capture the imagination of children of all ages – even the big kids amongst us!”

Part of the sponsorship money will fund an education programme in schools throughout the borough to teach children about careers opportunities in advanced manufacturing and engineering under the banner of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).

Schoolchildren will also be given the chance to design the 14th vehicle – based on the idea of ‘truck of the future.’

Eleven of the 13 trucks have already been reserved. Partner businesses will be promoted in extensive marketing and PR campaigns, which will run through most of 2017 in print publications, online and on social media.

The trucks now be manufactured from a welded steel frame before being put on display in April – and the businesses that sponsor the trucks get to keep them after the Truck Trail finishes in September.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for Leyland and one that I am incredibly humbled to be part of.”

Helen Heggie, director of STEMfirst, said: “The UK STEM skills shortage means it is imperative that employers and education work together to inspire the next generation, helping young people see STEM as a job for them and developing the key skills that employers will require from their future workforce.

Ivan Shearer, HR director at Leyland Trucks, said: “Leyland Trucks and DAF Trucks UK are proud to sponsor this exciting local community project. “It is particularly pleasing to work with South Ribble Borough Council and STEMFirst to encourage our local education sector to develop their vision of what a future truck might look like, and in doing so we will help inspire the next generation of manufacturers and engineers.”