Secondary school pupils from Taylor High School and Bellshill Academy enjoyed first-hand experience of a future career within the construction industry after taking part in our Build Your Futures Programme.
In collaboration with housing developer, Clark Contracts, pupils enjoyed a range of practical sessions on the site of one of our new housing developments, the former Motherwell Old Town Hall building, which is being transformed into 20 modern, affordable flats.
In addition to health and safety inductions, pupils were involved in slating, stonework, joinery and took part in a demonstration on leadwork, all of which are specialist skills used in the restoration of the Motherwell Old Town Hall. Experiences like this give pupils valuable insight into the range of trades involved in redevelopment projects and offer a hands-on introduction to the skills required.
Councillor Michael McPake, Housing Convener said: “Developing the Young Workforce created ‘Build Your Future’ which explores careers within the built environment. Aimed at young people in secondary school, S1-S3, the project, co-developed by employers and educators, aims to inform and inspire young people to consider and explore careers in the construction industry.
"It was fantastic to see one of our existing housing developments being used to give the next generation of the workforce a taste of the skills required to embark on a career in the building industry. Overall, the day was a great success, and I hope more contractors offer similar opportunities inspiring young people to follow a career into construction.”
These new flats form part of our new supply programme which aims to deliver 6,000 homes by 2035. The refurbishment will involve the partial demolition of the empty former Zone building while preserving the Grade C listed front façade, blending retained architectural features with energy-efficient, modern housing.
Michael Scanlan, Director at Clark Contracts, added: “It’s fantastic to have been able to support the development of local school pupils by giving them hands-on construction experience on our site. We are committed to nurturing young talent in the industry and hope that this event will inspire more students to consider a career in construction.”