Schoolchildren are being invited to an exciting event where they can explore a future career in civil engineering, at a two-day skills workshop this autumn, supported by the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP). The I-Construct event will be held at Fareham College on the 6 and 7 October.
Civil engineering and construction experts will be leading the event, as young participants take on a range of challenges exploring the world of the construction sector. Around 750 pupils from Year 7 to Year 11, from across the Solent, will work in small teams, and will be invited to interview construction experts and civil engineers, in order to develop a plan. The plan will be created to resolve a hypothetical incident, such as a sinkhole around a hospital, and the best 10 plans will win an award.
Brooke Hoskins, the Solent LEP's Executive Director for Skills said: "We are delighted to have been given the opportunity to sponsor the ‘Best Innovative Idea’ award category, and to be part of the Judging Panel. Events like these truly support raising awareness among young people about potential careers in the construction industry and help with the narrowing of a potential skills gap in the future.
"Our Career and Skills team work hard throughout the year to support connections between industry and education. This work, and this type of region-wide event go a long way to prepare young people for the world of work and show them some of the opportunities within particular industries which support a better economic future for the region."
Jason Woodward, SHEQ Manager at PT Contractors, who is project managing the event, said: “There are 250+ direct career paths within construction and civil engineering, and a similar number of indirect roles in various supporting areas, from material suppliers, product manufacturers, to training, equipment and plant. What we find is that careers leaders, parents, and young people are often unaware of this. It is important to secure the future success of the construction and built environment sector, and that is why we are excited to be arranging the I-Construct event this October to educate and inspire young people about a potential future within the industry.
“The event is supported by many amazing and talented people from the construction industry, all from a range of local businesses who are keen to encourage young people to consider a career path in the construction industry in the Solent.”
Many organisations are sponsoring the important regional event, including Fareham College, who are providing their new, state-of-the-art facilities at the Civil Engineering Training Centre (CETC) and Centre of Excellence in Engineering, Manufacturing and Advanced Skills Training (CEMAST). In addition, approximately 25 companies and organisations are supporting the event, with many more sponsoring awards.
The Hampshire Construction Training Association (HCTA) and the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) have both been involved from the start, approving, and supporting the proposed event. Students will be able to try out a number of professional simulators including driving a digger, a huge bulldozer, or a dump truck.
Experts from many civil engineering and construction companies have volunteered to take part on the day and will be on hand for students to interview them about their specific roles, and about aspects of the plan that they need to develop in order to win an award.
In addition to the workshop challenges for young people, there is an Open Evening planned on Thursday 6 October, between 6pm and 8pm, where many local employers will be free to speak with adults and students, about the potential possibilities of a career in construction, and the many routes they could take.
Jason added: "We hope to myth-bust some of the misconceptions about working in the industry, and to attract a diverse group of people and ages to the open evening. Attendees on the evening will even get the chance to have a go on many of simulators available, or to handle some of the latest digital tech used by the industry."
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