To coincide with the final stages of our affordable housing project in Reading with provider Sovereign, Contracts Manager, Ian West, visited a neighbouring school to help inspire the next generation.
Ian visited EP Collier School, which sits directly opposite the £1.8m Swansea Road scheme, where he gave insight into the construction industry to a group of year 5 and 6 students.
Pupils at the school have been able to see the development first-hand throughout its construction, from work beginning in March 2021 to its completion next month.
Ian, who spoke to the group of 50 children, said he was impressed with the level of interest and enthusiasm that the students showed in the construction industry.
“I was surprised at how engaged the children were with my presentation,” he said. “I always think it is important to demonstrate to students, particularly of this age, that the construction sector isn’t always just the manual labour tasks that many assume is the only employment option.
“Speaking with students to show them the variety of skills and roles available in the industry is important — and it always piques a lot of interest in potential career pathways.”
The scheme, which is the first project that Helix has worked on with Sovereign, provides much-needed affordable family homes to the central Reading community.
Commenting on the importance of engaging local young people in their work, Ian added:
“We are very keen to continue inspiring the next generation of construction professionals, be that through hosting more assemblies at schools near our developments or inviting students on site to see in practice the skills required for a successful construction career.”
“Going forward, we aim to build ongoing partnerships with local schools. This could include inviting children to the official opening of nearby sites, as ultimately, they will be the neighbours of the residents for years to come.”To find out more about the latest Helix projects, visit https://helix.limited/category/news/
