BUILDING BLOCKS FOR SUCCESS

A GROUP of Liverpool school pupils are laying the foundations for a bright future in the construction industry.  90 youngsters from schools across the city are participating in a series of sessions as part of Built Environment Awareness Day on Wednesday November 4, during which they will get hands-on experience in each area of the industry.

The day is a joint initiative between construction companies Balfour Beatty, Vinci, Morgan Ashurst and Liverpool Community College, which is hosting the event.  The sessions, at the Vauxhall Road campus of Liverpool Community College, will explore areas as diverse as project management, brick laying and computer-aided design (CAD).

An exercise that looks at the planning of a construction project from start to finish will encourage the Year 9 pupils, who are all 13 to 14 years old, to consider all aspects of the industry rather than just the traditional trades that are usually associated with construction.  Pupils will also have the chance to use state of the art design software which is normally reserved for top professionals when they are challenged to produce a computer generated image, which are used to show how the finished construction will look.

This is the first time an event of this type has taken place in Liverpool and it is aimed at encouraging more youngsters to take the Built Environment diploma, which can be studied at GSCE, A Level and university standard.  The majority of the youngsters are from schools which are set to undergo radical transformations as part of the £500m Building Schools, Skills, Success programme (BSSS), which will see every secondary school in the city either re-built or extensively refurbished under the government’s Building Schools for the Future scheme.

Councillor Keith Turner, Liverpool City Council’s Executive Member for Education, said:- “The BSSS scheme will completely transform education in Liverpool and one thing we want to encourage is skills and jobs for Liverpool people.  The construction industry offers highly skilled and well-paid employment, and we want to help local businesses develop the talent of the future.  This event is a great way of showing our pupils the opportunities that there are out there.”

BSSS schools taking part in the day include Gateacre Community Comprehensive, Alsop High School, West Derby, Broughton Hall and Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School. Students from New Heys Community Comprehensive and Saint Benedict's Catholic College will also take part.

Sarah Utterson, assistant training officer at Balfour Beatty, said:- “We wanted to give these youngsters, who were invited because they have all expressed an interest in careers within the science or construction industries, the opportunity to get real hands-on experience.  They will also have the chance to speak with some of the industry’s leaders to get an insight into what their day-to-day jobs entail.”

Steve Thomas, curriculum leader in Building Services at Liverpool Community College, said:- “The support from the construction industry shows commitment to producing local talent.  Liverpool needs skilled people and the diploma offers school leavers progression into the construction sector. With the support of these large employers, we as a college are aiming to raise awareness and the expectations of local teenagers through events similar to this.”

GREEN LIGHT FOR DEVELOPERS AT SOUTHPORT COMMERCE PARK

SEFTON Council has appointed Berkeley James as preferred development partner for two new Grade A office units at Southport Business Park. 

Situated on Wight Moss Way, Kew, Southport, the Business Park is today a well established, prime base for a number of leading brand names and large local employers including Royal Mail, and Experian.

This long awaited development is set to facilitate the growing demand for new, quality commercial premises in the Southport area.

With each building at three storey’s high and occupying a total of 30,000 sq ft each, the premises are set to attract interest from a range of small, medium and large businesses and enterprises looking to re-locate or acquire additional space for further growth and expansion. The two buildings will provide approximately 10,000 sq ft per floor of Grade A standard accommodation including raised floors, suspended ceilings and air conditioning and would be capable of sub-division for multi-occupation. An attractive address and setting, Southport Business Park offers a superb central position with easy commuter access to Liverpool, Preston and Manchester.

Tony Byrne, Director of Berkeley James said:- “Despite the current economic climate, we recognise the huge development potential for this site. There is very little commercial property of this specification available in this area and we have already received a high level of interest from potential tenants. Southport is enjoying an ongoing resurgence as a town in terms of residential, commercial and leisure opportunities. We firmly believe that this scheme will have a hugely positive and lasting impact on the local area and wider community through the potential of job creation, business expansion and the re-location of new businesses.”

Alan Moore, Regeneration and Environment Director of Sefton Council said:- “Sefton are delighted to have a partnership with Berkeley James, regarding the development of Southport Business Park and look forward to working with them in order to bring forward new business accommodation.”