VolkerHighways ‘opens its doors’ to the next generation of constructors
As part of Build UK’s Open Doors initiative, VolkerHighways recently engaged with several students to help them learn about the highways industry and the careers available within the sector.
At our Medway highways term maintenance contract, in Kent, we welcomed a number of 13-18 year old students to help them gain skills for employment. The visit was organised via a local charity called Think Forward that works to empower young people in the UK through long-term coaching. They equip young people with the skills and experience they need to move into work or further education after school.
Following a presentation about the industry and a quiz, the group were taken to a live site where they were able to watch the team resurface a footway.
At the end of the session, the team was approached by one of the female attendees who expressed a very keen interest in applying for a vacancy we have for an apprentice! Another female attendee is looking to undertake work experience with the business.
Meanwhile, John Dovey, project manager for our Oxfordshire street lighting term maintenance contract and Dave Easton Jnr, project manager for our electric vehicle charging division, visited John Mason School in Abingdon. They shared a careers and industry presentation to a total of 90 Year 9 students, as part of the school’s careers week.
Open Doors takes visitors behind the site hoardings to showcase the fantastic range of careers available in construction. This year’s event ran from 13-18 March and welcomed more than 4,500 visitors to over 230 sites across Britain.
Sohail Hussain, project manager for Medway, said: “This is the second year Medway has got involved with Open Doors. It’s a fantastic way to reach those students with a particular interest in construction and equip them with a basic knowledge of the highways industry and potential roles and routes into the industry.”
John Dovey added: “Dave Easton Jnr, and I, were delighted to visit John Mason School as part of Open Doors. By getting into the schools from an early age, helps cement the construction industry in the minds of students as a potential career, particularly those who struggle with formal education. We look forward to doing more engagements over the course of the contract.”
We are proud to support this fantastic initiative and look forward to welcoming some of the students back – perhaps as new employees.