#NAW2016 – Inspiring the next generation of construction

This week saw the celebration of National Apprenticeship Week and we have taken part in a number of shows and activities up and down the country to show our commitment to the national apprenticeship agenda and young people moving into STEM careers. Our team has been engaging with the next generation of students and providing them with an insight into Faithful+Gould, how we operate and what a career in the construction industry could mean for them. #NAW2016 celebrates the positive impact that apprentices can have on students and businesses, with a big focus on expanding the skill sets of both.

We hosted construction taster days across the UK where students aged 16-18 attended a full day session and were given an introduction to Faithful+Gould as well as the wider construction industry. Several interactive workshops were delivered throughout the day based around the core services we provide. The workshops included an overview of each service and a practical task for the students, incorporating skills that would be required for each of the technical disciplines covered.

Over the course of the day the students completed tasks incorporating a number of skills sets used within each of the roles, including refurbishment and construction space planning, measurement and quantification of construction materials, construction programming (programme of works) and a final overall task combining all the skills used throughout the day ‘The Lego Challenge’, where the students were required to build a structure using only Lego bricks.

Ben Watkins, a student from Garforth School commented, “I really enjoyed the whole day. Before the open day, I didn’t really know if the construction sector was for me, but after the day it is something that I am very keen on pursuing… the day itself helped to open my eyes to the type of work I would be doing…”

Many schools and academies are addressing the skills shortage by facilitating Careers Fairs specifically promoting STEM related careers. By attending these events we get the opportunity to present a combination of written material, one to one informative discussions and onscreen AutoCAD visualisations. By engaging with all students at all levels, we aim to showcase the benefits and exciting opportunities a career in the construction industry can bring and increase the appeal of STEM careers to women.

The shift in moving towards increasing STEM training and apprenticeships for students is encouraging, and by supporting these events we can provide young people with a real understanding about the benefits of undertaking STEM subjects. According to figures recently published in The Telegraph, women only fill 3 in 20 STEM roles in the UK, and only 2 in 20 STEM managers are female. At Faithful+Gould we are committed to changing these statistics for the future of the construction industry. By attending STEM events and supporting initiatives such as #NAW2016 we hope to continue inspiring young people to embark on a construction career.