The 14 and 15-year-olds have been learning skills used in the construction industry and were invited to visit the former Pearce Leatherworks site to find out more about the building trade.
Mark Swainson, associate principal at the school, explained: “The students are following NVQ in construction courses and are learning a range of skills including carpentry, plumbing and bricklaying at our construction centre at school. The site visit enabled them to get out of the classroom environment and see for themselves how the skills they are learning are used in the industry.”
The visit was enabled by Construction Futures; a groundbreaking construction training scheme established by West Northamptonshire Development Corporation.
Mark thanked Lagan Homes and Construction Futures for facilitating the visit and added: “From the students’ point of view it’s a great opportunity to see what a real construction site is like and to speak to people working in the industry. Historically we have seen students who have completed NVQ levels one and two in construction go on to study different areas of construction.”
Lagan is building 120 new homes in the grounds of the former Pearce Leatherworks. Reflecting the striking architecture of the original Grade II listed building, the development offers a selection of ‘Art Deco’ style houses plus some designs influenced by the ‘Arts & Crafts’ movement.
The stunning front of the empty factory and office building will be retained and has planning permission to be converted for future use.
Site manager Paul Neal said: “We were delighted to be able to show the students around the site so that they could see how the skills they are developing now can be used in practice in the future. Who knows, one day they could be working for Lagan Homes.”
Peter Caffry, Construction Futures project manager, said: “School visits like this are just one of the ways we are helping local young people experience the world of work. We’re trying to inspire the construction professionals of tomorrow and provide the training they need to be a success.
For details of career opportunities with Lagan Homes log on to www.lagan-homes.com/
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Editor’s note:
Lagan Homes is part of the Belfast based, family owned Lagan Group of companies, active in quarrying, manufacture of building materials and civil engineering in Ireland, the UK and beyond. The English homes business was set up in 2007 and has grown to a turnover of circa £45 million and will complete around 300 units this year. Sister company Lagan Developments is a joint partner with Bee Bee Developments in the redevelopment of the Priors Hall ex-quarry site in Corby. The ‘BeLa’ consortium is also responsible for the overall Little Stanion site, near Corby.
Based at Banbury, in Oxfordshire, Lagan Homes’ English division has current developments in Corby, Northampton, Milton Keynes, Bedford and Shefford. They include the creation of art deco homes behind the one-time landmark site of the Pearce Tannery Leather works in Northampton town centre. Further information: www.lagan-homes.com.
Issued for & on behalf of Lagan Homes by Active PR. Press information from Rachael Bruce, tel: 07545 504 052, email: rachaelbruce@activepr.co.uk; or Linda Bright, tel: 0771 002 0026, email: linda@activepr.co.uk.
Ref: apr2011/laganhomes/releases/
