Schools lay foundations for construction careers

Almost 2,000 schoolchildren tried their hand at trades during a construction and engineering event.

Eighty businesses gave young people aged between 10 and 18 an opportunity to try activities such as bricklaying, plastering and carpentry at Lincolnshire Showground.

The three-day event follows comments by Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who said the education system should offer a path for all young people, whether they chose academic or technical routes into work.

Sarai Dowding, a teacher at Sir William Robertson Academy, in Welbourn, said: "As teachers we love to tell them about careers, but I can't tell them what it's like to work in construction."

She added: "It's a great opportunity for them to meet the people that are in the careers and hear from the horse's mouth."

Alex Nightingale, of Greater Lincolnshire Careers Hub, said the event was "about inspiring young people to have a go at a variety of different construction and engineering-based trades".

"How can you expect young people to understand about jobs and careers if they can't see them?" he said.

"Construction and engineering as an industry and as a sector is huge across Greater Lincolnshire and it's important that we really shine a light on that."

New vocational GCSEs are due to be introduced in England in 2029, with the government arguing there is "huge demand" for subjects with more practical elements.

They are likely to include subjects such as building and construction, business management and child development, and would be studied alongside core academic disciplines.

The Conservatives have raised concerns that the changes could mean "sabotaging young people's futures".

Laura Trott MP, the shadow education secretary, said: "Better schools will continue to protect rigorous subjects, but disadvantaged children will be steered towards easier routes, lowering expectations."

The Liberal Democrats have also warned that vocational GCSEs should not become a "pipeline" directing disadvantaged pupils away from more academic subjects.

Spencer Group, a Hull-based engineering company, offers young people a degree apprenticeship route combining hands-on experience with a chance to earn as they learn.

Yvonne Moir, the firm's HR director, said: "It takes slightly longer as a part-time degree, but at the end of it they come out not just with a degree, but they don't have the debt and they've got all of those years of experience in industry."

Employers needed "to work very closely" with schools to ensure young people were aware of opportunities, she said.

"For a lot of young people, they don't necessarily want to go on to that high-level education like a degree, so having those practical options as well, it can only open up a lot more opportunities for them.

"We need young people coming up," she added. "Every industry needs a succession plan."

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