Constructionarium and CIOB hosted a first-of-its-kind school visit in March welcoming students from Springwood High School, King’s Lynn, Norfolk.
Sixteen students visited Constructionarium, a not-for-profit organisation that specialises in delivering unique experimental learning, for an engaging morning of learning and discovery.
The event, at Constructionarium’s site in the grounds of the National Construction College campus at Bircham Newton in Norfolk, gave students the opportunity to explore career options in the sector and engage with higher education students and industry professionals, while gaining hands-on experience.
The visit was coordinated by Josh Nelson MCIOB, apprentice site manager at Morgan Sindall.
The students experienced interactive discussions and hands-on activities and met students from the universities of Salford and Leeds, who showcased the scaled construction projects that they had been working on with their respective teams throughout the week.
Bridge-building exercise
The teams had been building iconic structures, simulating real-life contracting experiences, and were able to share insights into the challenges and the lessons learned. One highlight of the day was a practical bridge-building exercise. This gave the students a real taste of working in the industry.
CITB spoke to the students about the range of career opportunities available in the sector and potential next steps for apprenticeship, college or employment.
Constructionarium CEO Julia Stevens said: “We were delighted to host this school visit as there are so many educational and career opportunities within construction to showcase. It was fantastic for the visiting students to hear first-hand from university students about their career journeys, educational routes and the learning they are currently receiving. They were excellent role models to this group of potential new employees.”
Morgan Sindall’s Josh Nelson added: “I am so pleased this event came to life. It’s vital that we continue to inspire the next generation of construction professionals. The feedback we received from the students showed a increase in their interest into entering the sector.”
