Highways England organises education scheme

Highways England repair teams at the M5 Oldbury Viaduct have been organising a series of special visits to schools, colleges, and universities in the local West Midlands area in order to help train the next generation of construction workers.

The scheme, which has been organised alongside the Education Business Partnership, through the education service provider SIPS Education, has consisted of a both school and site visits wherein staff have been able to enlighten pupils on what it means to be working within the construction sector, how to get a job within the sector, and how to develop useful skills for when they leave education.

The Work Related Learning Consultant for SIPS Education, Sally Stone stated: “Interaction is key for pupils, to develop their interview skills, confidence and to gain impartial career advice.

“M5 Oldbury Viaduct staff continue to support our events brilliantly and are always able to provide pupils with their realistic experience and knowledge of the construction and related services industry.”

The scheme began back in 2017 and has gone on to organise an impressive 42 school visits and 52 site visits, resulting in 25 young people, all of whom were aged 17 or above, gaining work experience site placements with a further 20 having been employed into apprenticeships.

The M5 Oldbury Senior Manager at Highways England, Zbigniew Twarowski added: “It is great to be able to play a role in helping youngsters to decide on their career and education prospects.

“This repair scheme is both complex and unique in the challenges it presents, and we’ve really enjoyed being able to show people the importance of the work and why we’re doing it. We hope to see some of the faces at Highways England in the near future working on some of our award-winning construction schemes.”

School visits have entailed activities such as mock interviews, advice on completing job applications, and advice on finding employment in construction, while site visits have included tours, presentations on the different careers paths within construction, and advice on progressing down said paths.

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