Ben and Michael Dyer – Inspiration in Education nomination
Ben and Michael Dyer – Inspiration in Education nomination
Cousins Ben and Michael Dyer have spent more than a decade creating opportunities to inspire young people, raise aspirations and open doors to futures they may never previously have imagined.
Their journey began at University of Staffordshire University, where the idea that became The Inspirational Learning Group was first developed.
Ben and Michael, from Stoke-on-Trent, have built a national organisation with programmes that have now reached nearly one million young people, supporting them across careers education, enterprise, engineering, work experience, employability, financial capability and mental health and wellbeing.
Despite that national – and increasingly international – growth, Staffordshire has always remained at the heart of their work.
Over the past 12 months, one of the strongest examples of their impact has been Next Engineers, delivered with GE Vernova and FHI 360. Ben, Michael and their team have helped establish a significant, sustained engineering engagement programme for young people across Staffordshire.
In the last year alone, 3,276 young people have taken part, meeting engineers, tackling real-world challenges, visiting workplaces and discovering careers they may never previously have considered.
For some, that first experience develops into the multi-year Engineering Academy, providing a pathway towards engineering degrees, apprenticeships and careers, with financial support available for graduates progressing into further study. This year, 36 young people graduated from the Engineering Academy, with the majority progressing to university or apprenticeships. Among them was a student who secured a highly sought-after place at the Dyson Institute of Engineering and Technology.
Another standout success is Mindful Mondays, created by students at Blythe Bridge High School through the Oli Leigh Mental Health Challenge.
The pupils went on to win the challenge nationally. Mindful Mondays developed into an initiative designed to encourage young people to think and speak more openly about mental health and wellbeing.
For Ben and Michael, seeing Staffordshire students develop an idea capable of helping other young people represents exactly what inspirational education should achieve, giving young people the confidence not just to participate, but to create, lead and make a difference themselves.
The National Careers Challenge, created in Staffordshire, has grown into one of the UK’s largest employer-led careers programmes. During the past year its international expansion has continued into China, which Ben and Michael visited this summer.
More than a decade after their journey began at University of Staffordshire University, they were able to see young people thousands of miles away taking part in a programme created in Staffordshire.
Over the past 12 months, Ben, Michael and their team have continued working extensively with schools, employers and partners across the county. Alongside The Three Spires Trust, they have worked on the Equalex pilot for The Careers & Enterprise Company, exploring how meaningful workplace experiences can become a stronger part of young people’s careers education.
They have also continued developing the National Careers Challenge locally, bringing employers directly into Staffordshire schools and giving students the opportunity to tackle challenges linked to the real world of work.
In the past year, 43 schools have participated in 10 employer briefs, involving 6,485 young people. These students have gained exposure to employers, industry knowledge and opportunities to develop the skills businesses value.
Nearly one million young people have been reached nationally since TILG began, 3,276 have engaged through Next Engineers this year, there are 36 Engineering Academy graduates, dozens of young people have been supported into employment and 6,485 young people are taking part in employer-led programmes across 43 Staffordshire schools.
Ben and Michael have been nominated in the Inspiration in Education category of the Your Heroes Awards.
Their nominator said: “For their sustained commitment to young people, measurable impact across Staffordshire, ability to turn inspiration into genuine opportunity and success in taking Staffordshire-born educational innovation onto a national and international stage, we believe Ben and Michael Dyer are exceptionally deserving of the Inspiration in Education Award.”