Partner Article

Students discover wonder of a career in industry

Students from across the North East have been discovering the benefits of careers in construction and civil engineering during an interactive event hosted by leading industry professionals.

The Discovery Day, part of the ongoing inter-school Sporting Wonder Challenge, saw around 60 Year 9 and 10 pupils from schools from across the region, work together along with representatives from the region’s civil engineering and construction firms, including organisers Owen Pugh Group and the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE). During a busy and varied day, they learned about different aspects of the industry and the associated career opportunities.

The Discovery Day was funded by the Northern Counties Builders Federation and took place at the Education Centre in Norton, Stockton. The event gave students the opportunity to hear from experts covering the breadth of the civil engineering and construction industry, including architectural design, site location and model making, and have the chance to turn their own sketches into professional drawings. As well as providing support towards their own Sporting Wonder Challenge project, the event aimed to increase young people’s awareness of the varied technical and professional opportunities available within these industries.

The Sporting Wonder Challenge is an inter-schools competition that has grown in momentum over the past seven years. This year’s project, which culminates in July, gives budding engineers the opportunity to prepare a bid to develop a sporting venue on a piece of land that has both a themed function and is environmentally friendly. It also has to be sympathetic to the surroundings while providing added value to the community.

The challenge gives learners the chance to develop their skills in the areas of science, technology, engineering and maths, as well as other key skills. Teams are assigned industry mentors or ‘consultants’ to support them throughout the challenge. The workshops held as part of a Discovery

Day gave the teams involved the chance to get additional support for their wider Sporting Wonder project as they head towards their final tasks.

John Dickson, Chairman of the Owen Pugh Group, said:

“At Owen Pugh, we’re passionate about working with local schools and colleges, to help young people discover more about the varied careers they could pursue in construction and engineering. The Discovery Day, and the wider Sporting Wonder Challenge are great opportunities for students to work with genuine experts who between them represent all aspects of the industry. The day offered real, hands-on work experience and an insight into a potential future career path. Only by engaging young people at an early age can our industry attract talent and enthusiasm and build the skilled workforce of the future.”

Stephen Larkin, Director of the Institution of Civil Engineers North East (ICE NE), said:

“The Institution of Civil Engineers has supported a variety of ‘wonder’ Challenges since 2006. When Government funding was withdrawn, with the demise of Tees Valley Aimhigher, ICE NE was determined to ensure that the project continued. This year’s ‘Sporting’ Wonder has fired the imagination of hundreds of school children across the region, dispelling the stereotypical image of civil engineering and introducing the professional career paths that are available. Civil engineers make our day to day lives possible and a key part of the ICE’s work is to educate the world, particularly young people considering their future careers, about the reality of the profession, how to get into it and the options available once they are there. The ‘Sporting’ Wonder does this very well.”

George Hodgson, a teacher at the Joseph Swan Academy in Gateshead, said:

“The Discovery Day has been a good opportunity for the students to meet with a wide range of consultants involved with different aspects of the construction industry. Some of the pupils have even said to me that they didn’t realise there was such a wide range of jobs available.

“As well as giving them an insight into potential future career paths, Sporting Wonder has been great for building confidence and promoting team work among the students, as they’ve had to be responsible for developing their own ideas and for getting the information they need from the network of consultants.”

Paul Gibson, a teacher at St Hild’s Church of England School, in Hartlepool, said: “As a specialist engineering school, we’ve relished the opportunity to get involved in the Sporting Wonder project as it enables the students to get first-hand experience of the civil engineering and construction industry. Getting out of the classroom into the working environment, and having the chance to speak to industry professionals, has really sparked their enthusiasm and creativity.”

The Owen Pugh Group is one of the North East’s leading civil engineering companies, employing over 300 staff throughout the region. To find out more about the Owen Pugh Group visit www.owenpugh.com.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Owen Pugh Group .