Second-year pupils from every secondary school in Ross and Cromarty are being given an insight into careers in manufacturing at a three-day event in Alness this week.

Organised by Careers Scotland,  'Make it in Scotland' is being held at the town's Averon Centre to offer young people the chance to find out about a broad range of manufacturing-related jobs and businesses before they make their subject choices.

The workshops run from Tuesday (3 February) until Thursday (5 February) and have attracted pupils from Alness Academy, Dingwall Academy, Fortrose Academy, Gairloch High School, Invergordon Academy, Tain Royal Academy and Ullapool High School.

The accent is on fun as much as learning.  Pupils will be entertained by a magician and have the chance to operate a number of interactive displays as well as meeting successful business people face to face.

A variety of national and local businesses and training organisations are set to take part, covering sectors which range from food and drink to cosmetics and renewable energy.  They include Gillies Fine Foods, Claymore Creameries, David Matthews Furniture Maker, Fionnar Spring Water, Isleburn, MacKay and MacLeod, Ullapool Boatbuilders, Sweet Treats, AWG, the Construction Industry Training Board, Kirker Europe, Jim Hunter Music, AES Solar System, the Scottish Association of Master Bakers, Heriot Watt University and Inverness College.

Topics covered in the workshops will include research and development, design, production, prototyping, marketing and quality control.

Ian Carse, head of services with Careers Scotland in the Highlands and Islands, said:

"Scotland has a strong history of manufacturing and it remains an important sector of the economy which generates £36 billion every year.

"Nowadays, there is a fantastic range of careers associated with manufacturing, but we need to recognise that the popular image, among young people especially, lags behind that reality.

"By working with local schools and businesses, Careers Scotland believes that these roadshows will help to improve the image of manufacturing and open pupils' eyes to careers they might otherwise not have considered.

"Make it in Scotland gives young people hands-on experience of the workplace to help them make their subject choices and lets manufacturers raise their profile in the local area."

More information about the initiative is available online at www.makeitinscotland.co.uk