Young People Build Careers After Industry Taster Day
Local youngsters spent their half-term breaks last week (Tuesday 25 October) building careers for themselves after receiving a hands-on insight into the construction industry.
The initiative, in which thirty young people took part, is a part of the work of the Centre for Youth and Community Development, who aim to raise awareness around non-traditional pathways into the world of work.
The Bury Park youngsters, aged between 12-19 years of age, were joined by industry representatives from Wates Construction and CITB-Construction Skills, the national training body for the industry.
They undertook a series of challenges which were aimed at testing their abilities in financial management, innovative design and strategy, as well as teamwork and being able to work to project deadlines.
The young people were also given a chance to quiz Zak Hussain and Harrai Rupra, two of Wates’ trainees, about the routes they took into the construction industry.
Local lad Zak, 19, has been short-listed for the Bedfordshire & Luton Rising Stars Business Excellence Awards. He is up against three others for ‘Apprentice of the Year’ category ahead of the presentation evening on Thursday 10 November.
CYCD aim to promote careers as a part of their work in the community and have partnered with Construction Skills and Wates Construction, partners on the National Skills Academy for Construction, on a series of taster sessions. Advisers were also on hand to speak about apprenticeships in construction and other career routes into the industry.
The next event takes place on Saturday 19 November, at the centre in Bury Park.
Wates are principal contractor on the Building Schools for the Future programme around the town. They are partners with Construction Skills on the National Skills Academy for Construction, an approach which brings together the local supply chain and communities on a project.
Quotes:
Zak Hussain, who is on the trainee management programme at Wates Construction, said: “I really got some positive feedback over the course of what turned out to be an action-packed day.
“We had a diverse bunch of young people, many of them girls, all of who were very interested by the end of the day in learning more about how they could get ahead in construction.
“These kinds of activities are great for introducing unrepresented groups to the idea of careers in construction. “
Mir Juma, director for CYCD, said: “We were delighted with the way that the young people approached a really terrific day and credit must go to Wates Construction and Construction Skills who worked hard with us to put this together.
“We at CYCD strive to provide services to meet the needs of our local community groups and careers awareness is one of these. We look forward to our next event.”
Tania Chowdhury, 18, one of the young people, said; “I had one view of the construction industry but by the end of the day, this had all changed. There are careers for everyone and I really am going to think about it.
“I like to be creative and so am interested in designing or architecture.”
