VolkerFitzpatrick welcomes students to sites for Open Doors 2024
As part of Build UK's Open Doors week, last week, VolkerFitzpatrick welcomed over 100 school, college and university students to several developments across the business covering building, civil engineering and rail. These included our Ash Road Bridge project in Surrey, Eastbrook Studios in London, Tame Valley Viaduct in Birmingham, Camp Hill Lines rail project also in Birmingham and our head office in Hertfordshire.
Open Doors week enables students to go behind the scenes, giving them a realistic insight into the vast range of careers available within construction.
At our Ash Road Bridge project in Surrey, where we are constructing a new highway crossing over a rail line, 40, year 10 students from Ash Manor Secondary School in Surrey visited the site in two sessions. Each involved a presentation, giving them an inside look at the project, as well as discussing the variety of career paths available in the construction industry.
The groups were also given a site tour from a secure viewing area, allowing them to observe ongoing construction activities firsthand. They had the chance to ask questions and engage in discussions about the various roles essential for project completion.
Colin Bexley, VolkerFitzpatrick Project Manager at Ash Road Bridge, commented: “Inviting student’s to see a live site in progress is a great way to find out about career options in the construction industry. Student’s really engaged during the visit, and it was wonderful to be able to talk to them about the industry and answer all their questions.”
At our studio project in London 20 students from Barking & Dagenham College and New City College, Rainham got to see our development in progress. When complete it will be London’s largest film and television production centre, created by the world’s largest studio owner-operator.
In Birmingham, at our Tame Valley Viaduct strengthening project, 13 first-year students from Aston University, who are all studying Quantity Surveying, got to speak to current Surveyors about their role, responsibilities and career progression. At our Camp Hill Lines project, twelve students from King Edwards Camphill Girls School toured our site as well as 12 students from Wheelers Lane technology College.
2024 Open Doors at VolkerFitzpatrick has been a great success, with all visitors highly engaged and interested to learn more about projects and the wider industry.