Teenagers students studying engineering and plumbing have been finding out what it’s really like working on a construction site before they graduate.
They won a work experience week at Dagenham’s Beam Park development, on the former Ford Motor works site, in a skills competition at their college.
The competition had six winners who are studying electrical engineering and six who are studying plumbing at Barking and Dagenham College.
“Seeing the look on their faces when the winners were announced was priceless,” college development manager Zoe Richardson said.
“Working on a real building site gives them the ultimate first-hand experience in what their careers could be when they finish their studies. These experiences prepare them for the world of work.”
The students put what they’ve been learning at the college to the ultimate three-hour test in two separate contests.
Guest judges Paul McDermott and Peter Hodgson, from Colne Valley Electrical building services contractors, put them through their paces, one choosing six electrical winners, the other six plumbing winners.
Mr Hodgson said afterwards: “Judging to see how tomorrow’s plumbers are being taught proved a bit more of a challenge than I thought, as I could only choose six.”
The placements at Beam Park are a chance to show their skills to prospective employees that could lead to apprenticeships when they graduate from college.
The annual contest staged at the Rush Green campus helps fill the skills gap in the construction industry by identifying the next generation of skilled workers who are currently going through college. It is backed by Colne Valley Electrical and by Vistry house builders who are working on the Beam Park development.
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