POOLE-based cosmetics company Lush threw open its doors to businesses and schools to give a behind-the-scenes look at how its products are made.             

National Manufacturing Day showcases opportunities for both children and adults for future employment in particular industries.

During the day, 102 children from Queen Elizabeth’s School, St Edward's, SWRAC, Avonbourne, and Magna Academy, along with local businesses, were given a tour around Lush's factories and the oppurtunity to explore and educate themselves on its pioneering environmental waste management known as the Green Hub.

Ashley O’Sullivan started out as a temporary Christmas worker, but was chosen to stay on and has now been with the company for nine years as an operations manager for the Poole factory.

He said: “I think the relationships which you build are unique.

“It’s very much a family field within our business. I think the opportunity to grow a career in manufacturing is great.”

The 32-year-old added: “I previously used to work for the postal service before I started at Lush, and as soon as I came here, I could see straight away, the opportunities to make products to further a career here.

“I also think that the direction the company's going in. We're doing the right thing for the right reasons.

“We've had some amazing guests recently from the local area, and we want to try and encourage and show everyone just how much we can do.”

To add to its sustainability, Lush created the Bring It Back scheme, an initiative that saw customers return their product packaging for recycling in return for store credit or its products.

Lush is also charitable to local communities.

Ashley added: “We send materials that can be used for bedding to Monkey World, we’ve done a lot of things with diverse abilities and local care homes.

“Whoever we can impact, we always like to try and target the grassroots levels for the charities in need.”

Ashley said: “We want to create a cosmetics revolution that is also taking care of the waste we're creating as a cosmetics business and also as a manufacturing business.”