Three school pupils from the Midlands have seen the future of manufacturing training - and it involves youngsters running around and pretending to be air in an jet engine.

The teenagers, all pupils at the Heart of England School in Balsall Common, have visited three manufacturing firms across Britain to examine their links with education.

Jake Fletcher, Adam Hughes and Rostan Benarous, went to BP in Grangemouth and Siemens in Lincoln as part of the judging for the Manufacturing Excellence awards.

The trio was accompanied by James Bentley, a director of the Manufacturing Foundation, which is sponsoring the best partnership between business and education award.

But it was their visit to Rolls-Royce in Derby which really caught their attention.

Jake, aged 15, said: "They did lots of role play which involved staff going out into schools and getting dressed up.

"One of the things they did was a story about three islands, one of which was a rocky island with no technology, so they had to use themselves as chairs.

"Each of the other islands had a bit more technology on it.

"Another thing they did was get children to run around and around like the air in a jet turbine to explain how it worked."

Rostan, aged, 14, said: "We saw a video of this in action and it looked absolutely brilliant.

"People seemed to be really enjoying themselves and it helped explain to primary school children what was going on and grab their attention."

The High Flyers scheme run by Rolls-Royce also involved giving out work books to schools to explain about manufacturing processes, as well as science and engineering ambassadors - staff who act as teaching assistants and bring the subject to life.

At Siemens, the group went to see how gas turbine engines are made and how the company recruits modern apprentices.

At Grangemouth, the group went to the BP oil refinery, where staff spend four weeks a year going into schools to enliven the subject and encourage youngsters to take up careers in manufacturing.

Mr Bentley said: "It is not an industrial heartland around there, if you do not grow your own talent, you cannot get it from outside.

"This is not about companies being 'do-gooders'. They are doing good, but they are getting something back as well.

"Doing this is a way for firms to fill their skills gaps but can also improve the leadership skills and abilities of their staff who get involved.

"Many of these firms have staff who have become science and engineering ambassadors and we could do with more of these in the Midlands."

The winner will be revealed at the Manufacturing Excellence Awards in London on June 29. Adam, aged 15, said: "We have had a great week, being out there and seeing how things work."