Inspiration and innovation shine at Wham Stadium as #AmazingAccrington’s Futures Event and Education Summit take centre stage

A landmark day of opportunity and collaboration took place at Accrington Stanley’s Wham Stadium on Friday, as #AmazingAccrington hosted their annual Futures Event and Education Summit, welcoming students alongside business and education leaders.

In the 1968 Lounge, Year 11 students explored the pathways open to them after school.

From careers in the armed forces and the police, to further education and vocational training, the event brought together a wide range of exhibitors including Lancashire Constabulary, the Royal Navy, Royal Air Force, Hyndburn Borough Council, Myerscough College, Vital Synergy and many more.

Partners for the event included Accrington Stanley, Accrington & Rossendale College and Blackburn College.

Pupils attended from St Christophers C of E High School, Mount Carmel, The Oswaldtwistle School, Hyndburn Academy, Rhyddings School and Belmont School, making the day a vibrant showcase of ambition and possibility.

Running separately but alongside the Futures Event, the Education Summit took place in Coley’s, drawing together business leaders, headteachers and education providers to discuss the future of education.

After an introduction by #AmazingAccrington chair, Murray Dawson, guests heard from Sarah Smith, MP for Hyndburn and Haslingden, who delivered an update and took part in a question and answer session.

Accrington Stanley CEO, Warren Eastham, spoke on the importance of school engagement to the club, while Heath Groves, chief executive of Telana, explored the role of AI in education.

David Heap, managing director of Vital Synergy, addressed low carbon innovation for school buildings, before the event concluded with a panel Q&A and further networking.

Warren Eastham, Accrington Stanley chief executive, said: “We were incredibly proud to host both the Futures Event and the Education Summit here at the Wham Stadium. As a club, we are committed to inspiring future generations and playing our part in the community.”

Murray Dawson, chair of #AmazingAccrington, said: “This year has been a great success, with two important events delivered on the same day. The Futures Event helped Year 11 students discover their next steps, while the Education Summit created a vital platform for schools, businesses and policymakers to share ideas and collaborate. It’s fantastic to see the energy and ambition across Hyndburn.”

Sarah Smith, MP for Hyndburn and Haslingden, said: “It’s great to be here today down at Accrington Stanley Football Club for the Futures Summit, where we've had hundreds of school students coming through, finding out about all the apprenticeships, education, and further education opportunities available to them close to home.

"Then secondly, we've had the Education Summit, bringing together business leaders and our school leaders to talk about how we break the disadvantage gap, how we tackle the levels of economic inactivity in our town, and make sure that our young people know about the brilliant opportunities they have for their futures. It's been really important bringing people together to talk about how we can better connect.”

Visit www.amazingaccrington.co.uk to learn more about the events.