Jones Bros launches first ever work experience week7th Jul 2016

Five pupils from North Wales’ schools will get first hand experience of careers in civil engineering when they embark on a work experience week being run by leading firm Jones Bros.

The special week, which begins later this month (July), has been organised for students who showed an interest in the company and the industry during a recent careers day.

Two pupils who are currently studying towards their GCSE exams and three who are in the sixth form will spend five days at Ruthin-based Jones Bros Civil Engineering UK learning about all aspects of the industry.

The teenagers, from schools including The Alun School in Mold, Ysgol Glan Clwyd and Brynhyfryd, will spend time learning about the different careers available within the industry, as well as spending time with staff from different departments.

They will also get the opportunity to visit one of Jones Bros’ sites, as well as trying their hand at building a 12m long cable stayed bridge. Once assembled they can then walk across it before deconstructing it, learning about bridges, teamwork and civil engineering as they go.

Meriel Evans of Jones Bros said: “We thought a work experience week would give school pupils a great insight into the industry.

“We are really keen to get across the wide range of opportunities that are available at Jones Bros, not just for university students who we have traditionally had on work experience, but young people studying for their GCSEs and A-Levels who may be considering what they want to do in the future.”

The students taking part in the work experience week will also get the chance to have a go at operating plant on a simulator, as well as developing a project to apply what they have learned.

“We’ve tried to put together a varied and structured week and we’re confident that the students taking part will get a great deal out of it,” added Meriel.

Experts within business and schools and colleges believe that every student should have the opportunity to do work experience or an internship as part of their studies, while a recent survey of 100 recruiters emphasised the increasing value and importance of such opportunities.

The work experience week is part of a major drive by Jones Bros to attract enthusiastic, motivated people to the company. It was launched after the company started to struggle to attract applications at a sufficient rate to fill its expanding apprentice and trainee engineer programmes.

Jones Bros has identified that future growth may be slowed by a lack of trainees rather than insufficient new work.

Founded in the 1950s and employing approximately 350 people, Jones Bros has grown rapidly in the last decade. It is currently working on contracts in various sectors including the construction of waste management facilities, highways, flood and marine defence and renewable energy projects around the UK.