Teachers in Residence with Seymourpowell

Published 27th September 2024

Robbie Taylor, Acting Head Teacher at Mid Calder Primary School, recently spent two exciting days during his Summer holidays on a ‘Teachers in Residence’ placement with Seymourpowell.

Seymourpowell is a leading design and innovation company that brings creativity to life across a wide range of industries, from transportation to consumer products. Known for their cutting-edge ideas and ability to blend technology with design. At Seymourpowell they have a strong focus on collaboration with a team of diverse talents working together. Their work environment is a  mix of creativity and technology. This experience offered Robbie a fresh perspective and inside look into the creative industry, how it operates and the career routes available to students looking to move into design.

First Impressions

Robbie’s day started differently from his usual rush into school. “It was a nice experience getting the train, it was a change to my normal school morning routines.” he said. After a short walk from Stirling station, he arrived at CodeBase, the impressive, council-owned building where Seymourpowell is based. “It’s a lovely old building with stone arches, marble floors, and wooden staircases, but now updated from the input of the digital businesses that it now accommodates, bringing life to an old building.”

Upon arrival, Robbie was greeted warmly and felt the unique energy of the place. “You can tell this building was something special, now taken over by creative and digital fields,” he observed.

Getting Involved Right Away

Robbie’s day kicked off with a coffee run with Craig from Seymourpowell, setting a relaxed tone for the day. Back at the office, Robbie quickly noticed the lively atmosphere. “The main office is a big room with hot desks. Everyone was on headsets, chatting in both the virtual world and the real world” he said.

He was particularly intrigued by the diverse backgrounds of the team members, like Chris and Ben, who were working on a virtual reality project together. “None of them came from the same training background, but they all ended up there through different routes with a range of different experiences. It was particularly impressive to discover that some of the software they were using was self-taught, with team members acquiring new skills and knowledge as required. This need for autodidactic skills was interesting,” Robbie noted.

Hands-On Creativity

Robbie didn’t just observe—he jumped right in. The team welcomed him, gave him a laptop, and got him involved in one of their projects. “I was briefed with the team on what they were doing, and then asked to help with some research. It felt natural, and it was great to experience a different working environment and be welcomed as one of the team,” he said.

Using tools like Miro, which he was already familiar with, Robbie contributed to the project and appreciated the chance to work in such an innovative and creative setting.

Comment from Seymourpowell

Associate Director Craig Bunyan from Seymourpowell comments, “As a proud partner with The Design & Technology Association we are committed to keeping design and technology on the “cool” list for kids. We recently hosted Robbie (Mr. Taylor), head teacher from Mid Calder Primary School, at our Creative Technology Studio in Stirling. It was a pleasure to immerse him in our world, exploring spaceships, laying out train interiors, building and discussing the impacts of AI.

The visit was incredibly enlightening, especially with Robbie sharing his valuable insights on the perceptions that some parents and pupils have towards design and technology within the broader curriculum. The UK has long been a global leader in design and technology, ever since the industrial revolution, and maintaining this status requires us to foster interest in these careers from an early age. It is crucial that we nurture this career path from a young age and by emphasising the importance of design and technology, we can ensure that our industry continues to thrive and innovate for years to come.”

It’s clear that for Seymourpowell, this is more than just a mission; it’s a responsibility to ensure that the next generation sees the excitement and potential in these fields and this initiative opened the doors to meaningful discussions on the subject. 

Future Collaborations

Robbie’s time with Seymourpowell wasn’t just a one-off experience; it opened up possibilities for future collaborations between the company and his school. Ideas like workshops and project showcases were discussed, potentially bringing creative technology closer to the classroom.

Robbie’s placement at Seymourpowell gave him valuable insights and a fresh perspective. The experience highlighted the importance of creativity, communication, problem solving, staying positive, aiming high, leadership and teamwork- essential skills he’s excited to emphasise and nurture with all his learners not just for their development in school but beyond.

If you would like to find out more please email: amelia.wright@designtechnology.org.uk