More than 100 Year 9 and 10 students at Hope Academy in Newton-le-Willows are being offered the opportunity to start building careers in the construction industry, as part of the ongoing Parkside regeneration.
A hi-tech ‘simulator’ has been at the school all week, giving pupils an opportunity to try out different jobs found on construction sites, such as driving diggers and operating cranes.
The move is part of the Parkside Regeneration schools outreach programme as it gears up towards work starting on the giant project’s first phase. The aim is to encourage children to consider the range of well-paid jobs in the UK’s construction industry.
“There will be a wide range of skilled and semi-skilled jobs available as Parkside’s first phase is built-out over the next three years, alongside apprenticeships and training opportunities,” said John Downes, Executive Chairman of Langtree, the joint venture partner with St Helens Council that will bring the former colliery site back to productive use.
“We want as many local people and firms as possible to benefit from our investment and this initiative will show school-leavers the opportunities open to them during the construction phase.”
Students Gracie and Olivier trying the simulator with Mayor of St Helens, Cllr Seve Gomez-Aspron and Cllr Kate Groucutt.
Mr Downes, from Haydock, began his career as a trainee mining surveyor at Parkside Colliery. “When I was sixteen, the choice for young people was either the pit or the local glassworks. Parkside will massively increase career options for local young people once it’s up and running,”
Amy Green, Assistant Principal at Hope Academy said: “Our pupils go on to pursue a wide range of academic and career options but the sheer variety of jobs in the construction sector is a real eye-opener. The simulator is a valuable and engaging way to provide first hand experience in a safe environment. We expect as many as a hundred pupils to make use of it throughout the week.”
The unit has been provided by Civil and Remediation Ltd, who have trained up teacher Mr Charlie Wignall to instruct pupils how to get the most from it. Students are being encouraged to visit multiple times during break-times and lunch hours to explore as many different job roles as possible.
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