Youngsters try their hand at construction

Young people in the Hull area have been sampling a day in the life of a construction apprentice this week in celebration of National Apprenticeship Week (NAW).

Local school children aged between 15 and 16 from Sirius Academy, Hessle Federation, Andrew Marvell School, South Hunsley School and Archbishop Sentamu Academy, attended apprenticeship taster sessions run by CITB-ConstructionSkills, the Industry Training Body and Sector Skills Council for the construction industry. The event was run in partnership with Sewell Group, which provided its specialist Skills Academy for the event on 13 March.

In addition to learning more about construction apprenticeships, the young delegates took part in practical workshops and tried their hands at a selection of skills including bricklaying, plumbing, and woodworking. Local experts were on hand to give advice and information on all types of skills, including the renewable sector.

Pam Lee, a CITB-ConstructionSkills Careers Advisor, said: “The event was a great success. It really gave the young people some food for thought about their future career options. We hope we have inspired a new generation of construction workers who will make up the pipeline of talent coming in to the industry.”

Paul Brooke, Director at Sewell Group, said: “The National Apprenticeship Week taster session was a great success and we are delighted to have been involved. The construction industry needs to be constantly nurturing the talent of tomorrow, and we hope that events such as this will give youngsters an informative introduction, and help them on their way towards a career in construction.”