Educate, Inspire and Empower
Hard hats on: Bolton students visit live construction site to explore future careers
Students from Westhoughton High School were given the opportunity to experience the world of construction first-hand during a special Learning in Action site visit, at the Wingates development in Bolton on Tuesday 17 March.
Construction partner A E Yates welcomed 15 students from Years 9 onto the live construction site as part of a Constructing Change Learning in Action visit, giving them first- hand insight into the wide range of careers involved in delivering infrastructure projects
The Mayor of Bolton, Councillor David Chadwick, attended the event during the afternoon session to show his support for the initiative and see how young people are being introduced to careers in construction and engineering.
Throughout the morning, students heard from professionals representing organisations including AtkinsRealis, DEFRA Group Commercial, Flannery Plant Hire and A E Yates, learning about the skills, expertise and teamwork involved in delivering major projects.
In the afternoon, students took part in hands-on activities, including operating a plant simulator, touring the live construction site and using surveying equipment under the supervision of engineers and project teams.
The event formed part of Constructing Change’s Learning in Action programme, which brings young people onto live construction and infrastructure projects to help them understand the diverse opportunities available within the sector.
Mr Chris Dignam, Assistant Headteacher at Westhoughton High School, said:
“Opportunities like this are incredibly valuable for our students. Many young people simply aren’t aware of the breadth of careers available within construction and engineering, therefore being able to visit a real site and meet the people working there helps to open their eyes to what is possible and allows them to start thinking about careers they may never have previously considered.”
Mrs Aaron, Head of Year 9 at Westhoughton High School added:
“It was a fantastic day for our students. They really enjoyed being able to tour the site, touch the equipment, listen to the professionals and learn directly from people working in the industry. It was such a hands- on experience and we’re very grateful to everyone who helped to make it possible.”
Elizabeth Griffin-Bennett, CEO of Constructing Change, said:
“One of the biggest barriers to young people entering construction is simply not knowing what the industry looks like or what careers are available. Our Learning in Action days are designed to change and, by working with partners across industry, we’re helping young people to understand that there are endless possibilities, which are open to everyone. Thank you to all of our partners for making these days possible.”
Sven Till, CEO of A E Yates, said:
“We are proud to support Constructing Change and to open our sites to young people through initiatives like Learning in Action. Giving students the chance to see a working site and speak to people in the industry is one of the best ways to inspire the next generation. It has been a really great day for everyone involved.”
Constructing Change works with industry partners including contractors, consultants and government organisations to create opportunities for young people to experience careers in construction and infrastructure, helping to build a more diverse and skilled workforce for the future.
For secondary schools interested in arranging a Learning in Action day, or for more information on Constructing Change, get in touch today.
Categories: Press Releases