The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Building the future
Initiative helps youngsters learn all about a career in construction
School pupils across the north-east could get a taste of the construction industry, following the success of a programme which informs youngsters of the opportunities available.
Grampian Construction Training (GCT) and Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) are working with several key partners to launch a series of construction, engineering and building services challenges, to highlight the varied and exciting careers in the sector to S2 pupils.
The team launched a bridge building construction challenge for
primary schools in 2018, and this initiative will continue to run.
A new challenge called Build your Future is aimed at secondary pupils, who are deciding which subjects to take for the first time.
It is based on the successful Construction And Built Environment Challenge (CABEC), which has been running in Edinburgh for 20 years.
CABEC was organised by Anne Galbraith from Scottish Electrical Charitable Training Trust (SECTT).
Creative marketing and events agency, Mearns and Gill, is supporting the event management of the challenge.
It is hoped the project will address the skills shortage and showcase the full range of career opportunities in the industry to students, parents and teachers.
Every secondary school in Aberdeen city and shire will be invited to submit a team of 10 pupils to take part, with more than 300 pupils and 10 teachers expected to register for the first year.
The initial half-day heats will take place in October and November at colleges, universities and businesses throughout Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, giving pupils the chance to explore new environments, dispel myths about a career in construction, and talk to staff and experts. The challenge ends with a final oneday event in January 2020, when the 10 top-scoring teams will be invited to take part, with an overall winner announced at the end.
Michelle Forth, chairwoman of the Aberdeen Association of Construction Professionals, and the driving force behind bringing the challenge to the northeast, said: “We are delighted to be able to bring this new incentive to the northeast of Scotland.
“After 20 years of running this challenge in Edinburgh and Lothian, we are extremely grateful to Anne Galbraith from SECTT for allowing us to use her concept, and for sharing her knowledge and expertise as we put the plans in place.
“For several years now, different groups have been working on a range of projects to engage with pupils at an early stage, and our hope is that this challenge offers one platform for each of these groups to come together.
“This will in turn allow us to demonstrate the diverse range of career opportunities in construction, and to familiarise students with the different learning and working environments.”
For more information, contact Isla Stewart, Mearns and Gill, on isla. stewart@mearns-gill.com