Exmouth Students Gain Valuable Work Experience in Construction Industry through Innovative Initiative

Students from Exmouth Community College recently gained hands-on work experience in the construction industry through a week-long initiative organized by Building Greater Exeter and Exeter College. The program, known as Construction Work Experience Week, offered a diverse range of activities, including practical workshops, team-building exercises, site visits, and career discussions led by industry professionals and tutors. The students spent time learning about various aspects of construction, such as management, practical on-site skills, and vocational training, and even got to try their hand at bricklaying, plastering, carpentry, and roofing.

Key Takeaways:

• The Construction Work Experience Week is an annual program held by Building Greater Exeter for Year 10 students across the local area, aiming to showcase the variety of roles available in the construction sector and help young people develop the skills needed to succeed in them.
• The program involved students from Exmouth Community College, Isca Academy, St James School in Exeter, and Queen Elizabeth School in Crediton, who took part in a five-day program of practical workshops, team-building activities, site visits, and career discussions led by industry professionals and tutors.
• The students spent time at the New Roots Workshop CIC at the Vistry Group training site in Marsh Barton, where they learned various construction skills, including bricklaying, plastering, carpentry, and roofing.
• The program also included a day of team-building activities at Haven Banks and a celebration awards ceremony, where attendees received a certificate of achievement, a Golden Ticket from Building Greater Exeter for future work experience, and their own PPE kit.
• The Ted Wragg Trust, which all the schools are part of, would like to give special thanks to the New Roots Workshop students, who took on mentoring and leadership roles with the Ted Wragg students and stood out as excellent role models.
• The program was strengthened by the support of leading industry partners, including EX2 Group, Western Counties Roofing, and Taylor Lewis, Exeter College, and Exeter College Apprenticeships, who brought real-world expertise into the experience.

Statistics:

• The program was attended by students from four local schools: Exmouth Community College, Isca Academy, St James School in Exeter, and Queen Elizabeth School in Crediton.
• The students spent five days learning various construction skills and participating in team-building activities, site visits, and career discussions led by industry professionals and tutors.
• The New Roots Workshop CIC at the Vistry Group training site in Marsh Barton provided practical training for the students in skills such as bricklaying, plastering, carpentry, and roofing.
• 100% of the students received a certificate of achievement, a Golden Ticket from Building Greater Exeter for future work experience, and their own PPE kit at the celebration awards ceremony.

Sources:

• Building Greater Exeter
• Exeter College
• Ted Wragg Multi-Academy Trust
• EX2 Group
• Western Counties Roofing
• Taylor Lewis, Exeter College, and Exeter College Apprenticeships