Construction companies team up to help students build up their work experience

College students looking for a career in the construction industry have been given the chance to build a better future thanks to a pioneering new alliance.

The partnership between Northampton College, the University of Northampton and a host of companies working on the new Waterside campus project will see college students given the opportunity to spend time working on the development and transferring the skills they learn in the classroom into a real-world setting.

More than 50 electrical engineering students will be involved in the year-long scheme, each spending a week working on site with specialist contractors such as Bowmer & Kirkland and Derry Building Services.

James Whybrow, assistant principal at Northampton College, said: “Getting a taste of what work is like in the real world, working alongside real companies, is crucial to the career prospects of our students.

“By teaming up with major employers on a project of this scale, our students have the chance to showcase their skills and play a part in something that is transforming the landscape of Northampton.

“The University’s Waterside campus is an exciting project which we hope will give our young people the platform to learn, develop and boost their own job prospects.”

Dozens of Level 2 and Level 3 students will visit the site to find out more about the scheme before applying for one of the available spaces in the programme. The first batch of students will begin their work experience placements next month.

The project forms part of the social impact objectives for the new building the University introduced as part of the contracts for the building partners.

Professor Simon Denny, Executive Dean: Research, Impact and Enterprise at the University of Northampton, said: “I am delighted that the University, Northampton College and our construction partners are working together to enable local students to gain vital experience in construction at our new Waterside Campus.

“We currently have more than 280 local people working at the Waterside, and 34 local businesses are suppliers to the project. The University is determined that the building of the new campus gives the county new opportunities for employment, training and business, and these new work experience opportunities are another way in which we can support our local community.”

The innovative £330m Waterside Campus will transform a 58-acre brownfield site in Northampton’s Enterprise Zone.

Opening in September 2018, it will provide state-of-the-art academic facilities for 15,000 students, residential and leisure facilities.

For more information visit the Waterside website.