Teachers return to learning to help promote careers in construction and engineering14th Apr 2011

Caption: front seated (left to right) teachers Aled Pennant; Sion Williams and Wil Price. Back (left to right) from the Balfour Beatty/Jones Bros bypass site Neil Nightingale; Rhidian Roberts; Hefin Lloyd Davies

A group of teachers undertook their own work experience to sample life on one of  Wales’ largest construction projects.

The teachers shadowed a quantity surveyor, a project manager and an environmental officer working on the £35m Porthmadog bypass construction scheme to get a flavour of the different roles involved.

The aim was to give the teachers a real insight into the careers available in the engineering and construction industry, enabling them to better guide their students considering career options.

During the day, they developed a case study sheet detailing hours of work, skills required, duties within the roles, training and other opportunities available, as well as the best and worst aspects of the job.

Claire Burgess, professional development co-ordinator at Careers Wales North West, who organised the event, said: “The idea of teacher days like these are to enable teachers to appreciate the breadth of careers available in the construction and engineering fields and to pass this on to their students.

“When many people think of engineering or construction, they think it is all about labouring but there are many other roles, many of them very highly skilled.

“We are also keen to make links between schools and employers as this is very valuable for students. Some of the schools we work with offer a BTEC qualification in engineering and this would be very relevant for them.”

The teachers who participated in the day were Wil Price of Ysgol Ardudwy, Harlech; Aled Thomas of Ysgol Gyfyn Llangefni and Sion Williams of Ysgol Syr Thomas Jones, Amlwch.
Wil, a design and technology teacher at Ysgol Ardudwy, said: “It was an amazing experience. I was particularly impressed by the level of environmental work included in the scheme, such as creating habitats of lots of different creatures.

“There are many highly-skilled people working on projects like this and this event will enable me to be much better informed when talking to my students about career options.”

The scheme is currently being undertaken by a joint venture partnership of Balfour Beatty and Jones Bros Civil Engineering who are constructing the Tremadog, Porthmadog and Minffordd bypass for the Welsh Assembly Government.

The 5.3km route, which will ease traffic congestion in the north Wales tourist town, runs parallel to the Cambrian coast mainline railway, crosses the Glaslyn estuary and skirts a working quarry.

Hefin Lloyd-Davies, deputy partnership project manager on the scheme, said: “We were delighted to host the teacher day and if it helps to encourage more young people to consider careers in construction and engineering, all the better.

“It is really important that young people know that as well as going to university, there is an alternative and by considering an apprenticeship, they can train for a great career by gaining on site practical experience.”

Caption: front seated (left to right) teachers Aled Pennant; Sion Williams and Wil Price. Back (left to right) from the Balfour Beatty/Jones Bros bypass site Neil Nightingale; Rhidian Roberts; Hefin Lloyd Davies