Building the manufacturing talent pipeline
The Bayport Polymers (BYO) team recently had the chance to make a meaningful impact by spending a day with Brookwood Elementary’s fifth‑grade students. What started as a simple STEM field visit became a powerful example of what can happen when secondary education and industry come together with a shared purpose. This experience directly supports the LYB commitment to invest in tomorrow’s workforce by expanding access to early, hands‑on STEM learning and helping students imagine pathways into high‑skill technical careers.
Through Brookwood Elementary’s coordinated visit to the LyondellBasell Center for Petrochemical, Energy and Technology (CPET) at San Jacinto College, the group helped create an environment where curiosity could thrive. Elementary students, college students, teachers and LYB volunteers all shared the same space, learning from one another and seeing firsthand what future career pathways in our industry can look like.
More than 50 volunteers from LYB and CPET worked together to guide over 130 students through hands. Volunteers walked the students through seven hands‑on stations that introduced real‑world concepts like ultrasonic testing, electrical systems, equipment identification, gasket exchange and fall prevention, and lab activities in the glass and glycol units. Each station offered something special: a chance for students to touch, try, ask questions and learn through doing.
One of the most meaningful aspects of the day was watching San Jacinto College students lead demonstrations. Meanwhile, LYB volunteers helped guide activities, reinforced safe work practices and shared their own stories, reflecting on how they got here, what they love about the work and why the industry needs the next generation of talent.
Reflecting on the event, Jeff Pearce, Coordinator for Education and Workforce at CPET, emphasized the strength of the partnership, noting, “We love having a partner as engaged as LYB. It was a busy day filled with engagement and collaboration, and the experience was so impactful that we all agreed it's an event we’d love to duplicate. It was truly a colossal success.”
This program provides an example of how LYB helps lift up our communities and supports pathways that lead students into technical and STEM fields. By investing in students early and connecting them with instructors, industry professionals and peer role models, LYB helps equip future innovators with the confidence, exposure and foundational skills needed for long‑term success in high‑demand careers. This effort reinforces our commitment to investing in tomorrow’s workforce by preparing, inspiring and empowering the next generation of talent.
Faces of Manufacturing celebrates the people who are the heart of our operations – one story at a time.
