Coleg Cambria construction students gain vital first-hand site experience thanks to North Wales contractor

Construction students at Coleg Cambria are still gaining vital practical site experience, despite COVID-19 restrictions, thanks to an innovative approach from a North Wales contractor. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Wynne Construction, which has a long history of engaging with young people and supporting them into careers in the industry, is holding digital talks and livestreams from its projects in the region. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The first two sessions, delivered to 23 learners enrolled on the level 1 bricklaying construction course at the Deeside campus, focused on health and safety, which tied into their curriculum after they began studying the theory at the start of term. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The students watched a newly created site induction video, produced by Wynne Construction, and took part in an interactive Q+A about health and safety. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The lesson was delivered by Wynne’s Alison Hourihane, business and community development management, and Colin Proffit-Jones, HSEQ manager. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Wynne is now putting plans in place to livestream works from its schemes to allow those in the classroom a first-hand look at what happens on site. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The students will also hear valuable dos and don’ts and best practice to assist with their studies. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Ian Hogg, assistant principal – institute of technology (Deeside), said: “It was high on our agenda to ensure our learners could still access the important insight construction companies provide. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“The North Wales Construction Partnership and the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) have worked hard alongside employers in North Wales to identify alternative ways of working. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“Fortunately, Wynne Construction is always proactive and were keen to introduce pilot lessons straight away. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“Alison progressed the idea of a remote lesson focusing on site induction using the  new video, as well as an interactive lesson. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“The students really enjoyed it and understand the importance of an employer willing to put the effort in and support the college in their education.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Alison said: “Many first year students at college have not been on a construction site before and we would typically welcome them onto a project to gain direct experience. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“Our thought-process has been: how can we bring the practical learning to the classroom? ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“We have adopted technology to improve our operations for many years, and COVID-19 has seen us accelerate some aspects, including community engagement, which means we were perfectly placed for this. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“The team is looking forward to the livestream elements to bring real-time footage to the students in a safe environment.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

For more information, visit www.wynneconstruction.co.uk ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

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