Pupils at Sefton Impact recently took part in a workplace visit to the new St Wilfrid’s Place Bellway housing development in Litherland.
The opportunity was arranged by the Liverpool City Region Careers Hub and Bellway Homes to enable pupils to not just learn about a local development but to be a part of a construction site adding a ‘real life’ experience for those interested in a career in the industry.
During the site tour the students had the opportunity to see the construction journey from groundworks through to a completed show home. The students now have a better understanding of the range of career opportunities available to them within the construction sector.
For the school, preparation for the future is a key priority with workplace opportunities just one of the many ways pupils experience a comprehensive careers education.
Speaking about the visit, Mrs Richards, Teacher of Art and Careers at Sefton Impact PRU, said: “This was a fantastic opportunity for our Year 11 pupils to get a glimpse into the world of work. The pupils who attended the site tour and participated in the activities were amazed at the variety of job roles which can exist on a construction site. Some of our pupils had expressed an interest in working in construction during careers sessions in school which is why we worked with the Liverpool City Region Careers Hub and Bellway Homes to arrange this opportunity.”
Mrs Richards added: “Even for those pupils who attended who had no idea about their future career aspirations returned to school energised and with ideas about employment and training opportunities when they leave school next summer.
“We can’t thank Bellway Homes enough for this opportunity.”
Jenny Bell, sales director at Bellway Homes, added: “Bellway Homes are passionate about the work they do and proud of the houses we build, and we were delighted to host this site visit for Sefton Impact. The pupils really seemed to enjoy their time at St Wilfrid’s Place, and we hope they take on board what they learnt and perhaps embark upon a career in construction in the future.”
A Year 11 Sefton Impact pupil who took part in the visit commented: “It was great to get out of school and to see a real building site. They are usually off limits. It was interesting and the people showing us around shared lots of information about things. It taught me a lot about the construction industry.”
The Liverpool City Region Careers Hub, managed by Growth Platform – the Liverpool City Region’s growth company, are a national initiative run by the Careers & Enterprise Company as part of the government’s careers strategy. Careers Hub bring together schools, colleges, employers, and education providers across the region to make it easier for schools and colleges to improve how they prepare young people for the world of work.
Reflecting on the day, Julie Jones, Enterprise Coordinator at Liverpool City Region Careers Hub said: “Experiences like these really do make a difference to the attitudes of pupils to their education. Real life work experiences like this really can influence their future plans and subject choices and I’m so pleased that the pupils on this visit got so much out of the day.”
Julie added: “Having businesses work with schools is vital to bring the world of work to life for our young people and is central the work of the Careers Hub.”
