York school students get taste of construction careers
| Fifteen Year 11 students from across York got the chance to get a real-world insight into the construction industry. |
| Their industry taster day began with a tour of the York Central construction site, where students learned about ongoing work on one of England’s largest brownfield development, and future career opportunities represented by this landmark project.
Back at Sisk’s on-site office, the students met with eight employees from four construction businesses and quizzed them about their roles and career paths, learning about the huge range of careers available, from bricklaying to project management and from civil engineering to plastering. The students learned about the wide range of avenues open to them to get into a construction career, from T-Levels to degree apprenticeships. The group also heard from Paul Brown, CEO of Sisk, the infrastructure contractors appointed by Homes England and Network Rail to complete the civil engineering and infrastructure works phase of the project. Paul reflected on his own journey from a working-class childhood to becoming the leader of an international construction firm, and highlighted the benefits of choosing a skilled, in-demand construction career. After lunch, the students tried their hands at practical problem-solving challenges, working in small teams alongside industry professionals to create a tetrahedron structure using dowels and string, and build weight-bearing mini bridges. The session was organised by York’s Construction Skills Partners, including City of York Council, CITB, York College, Sisk, Simpson, Caddick, Equans and NYBEP. Cllr Pete Kilbane, Executive Member for Economy and Culture at City of York Council, said: “York is embarking on some exciting developments like York Central and our Passivhaus building programme, which will make our city a greener, more prosperous and better place to live. This opens up great opportunities for our young people with a wide variety of skilled, well-paid jobs available in the construction sector. “Getting a real-world insight into the huge range of career paths offered by this industry is so valuable for young people at this crucial point in their education, and I’d like to thank all our construction partners for hosting this session and taking the time to inspire the next generation.” Richard France from York Construction Skills Partnership said: “We’re committed to ensuring that York’s future workforce has the skills needed to deliver on many exciting and varied projects around the city, whilst connecting residents to rewarding work with local employers. “The success of this taster day with a fantastic group of young people is a great example of how we’re putting this mission into action by helping students understand the many benefits that a career in construction can bring, and showcasing the wide variety of ways into an exciting career within our industry. “A huge thanks goes to all the organisations and construction employees who helped organise such a full and inspiring day for the students, and to those who came along to share their own career journeys. Lastly, I’d like to thank the students who took part in the day as it’s very encouraging to see young people engaging with the industry. “With the enthusiasm of those who attended it’s clear that the future of construction in York is bright.” Watch the video about the taster day at: https://youtu.be/B7ZWjbGAlHo |