 Why I’m creating Joining the Dots
I’ve spent over 25 years working with businesses, particularly SMEs in manufacturing, engineering and industry, both here in the UK and internationally.
But this story starts much closer to home.
I grew up in the High Peak and went to New Mills School (long time ago...), one of the schools involved in the Joining the Dots pilot. Like many young people at the time, I experienced first-hand how limited careers guidance could be. I was encouraged down the traditional route of A-levels and university, with very little opportunity to explore what else might be possible.
If I had my time again, I’m not sure I would make exactly the same choices, not because they were wrong, but because I simply didn’t know what other doors were open to me.Â
Little did I know that my first work experience placement, at Street Crane in Chapel-en-le Frith, would be the starting point for a career that took me far beyond anything I imagined at that age.
I went on to build a successful international corporate career, working in the steel industry, living in France, and eventually becoming Head of Communications, responsible for communications and marketing across more than 350 steel processing sites around the world.
 That journey taught me something powerful.
There is no single “right” path.
And opportunity often appears in places we’re never shown at school.
More than ten years ago, I founded LRComms, and since then I’ve worked alongside hundreds of SME leaders and in-house teams as a strategic communications consultant, coach and non-executive director. I’m also a best-selling author, sharing practical insight to help small businesses grow with clarity, confidence and purpose.
That experience has given me a front-row seat to a growing challenge.
Our UK small business and manufacturing community is full of incredible people, skills and opportunities, yet so many of these businesses remain the world’s best kept secret.
Behind factory doors, workshops and offices sit careers that are interesting, rewarding and meaningful, but invisible to the next generation.
At the same time, the world of work is changing fast as we move in to the digital era.
Traditional, linear career paths are disappearing.
The skills gap is widening.
And young people are being asked to make life-shaping decisions without really understanding:
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what different jobs actually involve
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what opportunities exist locally
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or how many possibilities are open to them
I see this from both sides.
I work with businesses who are struggling to attract the right people, worried about future skills, and frustrated that they can’t show the reality of what they do.
And I see young people who are curious, capable and full of potential, but lacking visibility, confidence and real-world context.
That disconnect is exactly why I created Joining the Dots.
This project is about creating meaningful encounters, not polished career stories or outdated advice, but honest insight into real businesses, real roles and real journeys.
It’s about opening minds, sparking curiosity and helping young people see that the world really is their oyster, and that with the right mindset and opportunities, they can do anything they put their mind to.
It’s also about championing our UK SME and small business community, helping more businesses be seen, understood and valued, and creating a genuine desire for people to want to work there.
This is my way of giving back, to the place I grew up, to the businesses I care deeply about, and to the next generation who deserve to see what’s possible.
That’s why Joining the Dots matters.
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Help me bridge the gap between the world of work and our young people by getting in touch today and let's explore how you can get involved.
Lucy Rennie x
The WHY behind the project
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There is a growing disconnect between education and employment - particularly in rural areas like the High Peak - and it’s affecting both young people and businesses.
The world of work is changing fast. New ways of working, advances in technology and AI mean careers today look very different to those of previous generations. Yet much of what happens inside workplaces and industries remains invisible to young people.
Post-pandemic, many young people feel less confident and underprepared for working life. Schools are doing their best to support them, often with limited time, resource and access to real workplaces.
On the other side are brilliant businesses - in manufacturing, engineering, tech and beyond - doing valuable work that isn’t always visible or seen as “trendy”.
Many want to help, but face red tape, lack of connection with schools, and real challenges attracting people with the right values, skills and curiosity.
Joining the Dots exists to break down these barriers.
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By creating a simple, supported way to connect schools, young people and businesses, the platform opens doors, challenges traditional thinking around careers, and widens the range of pathways young people can see - from apprenticeships and in-house training to routes that don’t fit a single mould.
It’s a win-win: better-informed young people, stronger local businesses, and communities that grow together.
This project sits at the heart of what LRComms stands for - meaningful connection, sustainable business and positive community impact.
This project is part-funded by East Midlands Combined County Authority and the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The grant scheme was administered by High Peak Borough Council.
