ConstructionSkills Careers Website Link -  http://www.bconstructive.co.uk
Log in to the BConstructive website to register your interest in becoming an apprentice or just to find out more about careers in construction.

 

CITB-ConstructionSkills Careers Work Within Scotland North Area
ConstructionSkills Scotland – School Offer:  Events planned for academic year 2011-2012
Primary
The Giant Tetrahedron
This is an excellent simulation of the kind of problems which occur when translating the design for a building into reality. It requires teamwork, co-operation, good planning and decision making of the highest standard to succeed. The satisfaction of completing the project to the clients satisfaction based on the initial specifications is considerable.

 

 

Transition Event

The Education Department of ‘ConstructionSkills’ in partnership with the ‘Active Schools Network’ are piloting a transition event for primary school pupils in the Highland area. This project has been inspired by the up coming 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and seeks to promote sport, culture, education, sustainability, volunteering & the built environment. 
The aim of this activity is to assist in the process of helping the P7’s make a smooth transition to their destination secondary school whilst engaging in physical activity & learning.

Health & Safety Workshop – ‘Stay Safe’

This is aimed at pupils of primary school age and encourages the children to think about the hazards on and around construction sites, and how to avoid them. The workshop includes a DVD; a quiz & hands on activities.

Secondary – S2
Subject Choice Presentations
We aim to work with Secondary Schools to providing Information and advice on the suitability of Skills for Work as a subject choice, as well as entry requirements for University on Construction Related courses, with the aim of Increasing the quality and Diversity of students who consider these subject choices. 

 

Activity Day at College
Pupils will be invited to a local college for a full day of events where they will get to ‘have a go’ at construction activities – joinery, bricklaying, plumbing, painting & decorating, surveying etc.
Design & Build Challenge – Bridge Building Competition
ConstructionSkills in partnership with Highland Construction Training Group & Inverness College have developed this event to provide an opportunity for teams of four 2nd year pupils to gain an insight into practical engineering and construction.

The challenge is to design and build a wooden bridge to span 1100mm that will carry the maximum load for the minimum cost.  An introduction by staff from the Engineering and Construction Departments of the college will explain the principles of bridge design, what tools are available to the teams, and how the construction materials are priced.

After a practice session, serious design and building leads to a testing session in the afternoon when bridges will be tested to destruction, and prizes awarded in the following categories:

 

Secondary – S3; S4;S5;S6
Skills for Work / National Progression Award – Construction: Timetable of Events

S3

S4/S5/S6

 

Site Visits
The education team are involved in setting up or assisting with site visits for school pupils or college students. These visits are carried out locally and are set up to give the young person a taste of life on a building site.
Construction Simulations
ConstructionSkills Scottish Education Team and our Construction Ambassadors carry out a wide range of construction Simulation activities in School, with activities suitable from P6 to S6.
Careers Materials
ConstructionSkills produces a range of career materials aimed at school pupils. These are produced in a variety of formats such as paper booklets and electronic/mobile/web-based I information. ConstructionSkills has a website specifically aimed at young people giving career information on the whole range of occupations available within the construction Industry (www.bconstructive.co.uk). The site features case studies of people and projects, information on university and college courses, application forms for craft apprenticeships and university sponsorship, competitions, etc.
All materials are available free of charge and an information pack is sent to every secondary’s school and Careers Scotland office. 
Secondary – S5 & S6
Airport Project – Timescale: full day, Year Group: S5/S6
A new terminal building has been constructed at Heathrow Airport. In reality, planning permission wouldn’t be given to an airport which did not include facilities for people with disabilities. However, for the purpose of this exercise, this terminal does not have the appropriate facilities.
The pupils’ construction companies have been approached to solve the problem by introducing appropriate disabled facilities to the airport. Finance has been allocated and their task is to put forward the best solution to the problem within the budget. The company which presents the best solution and best costs will be awarded the contract. 
Work Shadowing
A work shadowing placement is intended to help a young person decide if a specific career is for them. There is no obligation on a school to provide such a placement and they are generally instigated by the young person themselves.
They are intended to “shadow” a professional; such has the site engineer, within the industry. Obviously all appropriate health & safety legislation relating to young people should be adhered to and checks made that insurance policies are valid too.
ConstructionSkills offers young people work shadowing placements. These are week long placements with construction companies offered to senior school pupils who are considering a course in the built environment at college or university. The young person completes an application form, with a section to be filled out by their guidance teacher, expressing a preference as to which discipline.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT   
William.skinner@cskills.org