JD UP Manchester 2026

Year 10 students from Newhouse Academy recently joined thousands of peers from across Greater Manchester for a high-energy look into their professional futures at JD UP Manchester.

Hosted by the JD Foundation at Manchester Central, the annual large-scale careers event transformed the iconic venue into a hub of innovation, retail excellence, and digital creativity. The day was designed to bridge the gap between classroom learning and the fast-paced world of global retail.

Hands-On with the JD Group

Rather than just hearing about careers, students experienced them firsthand. The event featured “Career Insight Zones” where the inner workings of the JD Group were brought to life:

Retail and Design: Students explored the mechanics of shop design and merchandising, learning how products move from a warehouse to a customer’s hand.

Creative Media: Mock photography sets allowed aspiring creatives to step into the roles of stylists, photographers, and models, getting a taste of the production side of fashion.

STEM in Action: The event highlighted the vital role of science and technology in the industry. Students saw how maths drives merchandising, finance fuels buying, and innovation powers engineering and problem-solving.

Star Power and Expert Advice

The atmosphere was electric, thanks in part to a line-up of guest speakers and influencers including the Bov Boys, Angry Ginge, Chazza, Tays, Heinz, and Jakey, who shared insights into the modern digital landscape and their own journeys.

Beyond the celebrities, the true value lay in the ‘Employer Encounters.’ JD colleagues and industry experts were on hand to discuss career journeys, providing students with essential Labour Market Information (LMI) and exploring apprenticeships as a viable and exciting further education pathway.

“The event supported our careers programme perfectly. Our students were able to see the direct link between their curriculum learning and real-world careers.” – Miss Jones Newhouse Academy Careers Coordinator

Modeling Core Values

Newhouse Academy’s Year 10 students stood out not just for their engagement, but for their conduct. Staff noted that the group were excellent ambassadors for the school, consistently demonstrating the Academy’s core values of aspiration, integrity, and respect throughout the day.

By the end of the event, students left Manchester Central not just with bags of information, but with a clearer vision of where their hard work in school can take them.