East Yorkshire-based housebuilder Beal Homes has welcomed a group of students hoping to pursue careers in the construction industry for a behind-the-scenes tour of one of its flagship developments.
The family-owned housebuilder hosted a group of students from Oasis Academy in Immingham, North East Lincolnshire, at its new Highfields development in the town, where Beal is delivering more than 500-high quality new homes.
Students from the school’s extracurricular Bricklaying Club got stuck into hands-on tasks, gained a valuable insight into the workings of a construction site, and spoke to housebuilding industry professionals about their career journeys.
The tour was hosted by Beal team members Wayne Edmond, Contracts Manager; Jason Amies, Site Manager; David Bennett, Commercial Manager; Simon Richardson, Plumbing Manager; and Jamie Barrington, Operations and Part Exchange Manager. They showed the students around the growing development and shared knowledge and advice from their own careers.
The Highfields development will feature 525 new two, three and four-bedroom homes on a site off Stallingborough Road, just a short walk from Immingham town centre.
The students began the day with an introduction to the Beal business and the Highfields development, including daily site operations, and health and safety.
They then had the chance to tour the development, to appreciate the stages of construction and the variety of trades that are involved with the process.
They also got hands-on during a lesson on bricklaying, learning about different brick types and materials used in the construction process and getting the chance to practice bricklaying techniques.
The Beal team also provided insights into the entire journey from bricks and mortar to finished family home, with students visiting the Marketing Suite on site and learning about Beal’s Design Lounge, where buyers work with the housebuilder’s expert designers to customise their home.
The day concluded with a Q&A session during which the students had the chance to grill the Beal team on topics such as career pathways and skills needed to succeed in the construction industry.
Beal Contracts Manager Wayne Edmond said: “It was a pleasure to welcome the students from Oasis Academy to our Highfields development. They were enthusiastic and engaged, keen to learn more about the construction industry and what they can do to take their first steps into employment after school.
“We’re committed to leaving a lasting, positive legacy in the areas in which we work, not only providing high-quality homes but also providing excellent employment opportunities for local people.
“Capturing young people’s imagination and opening their eyes to the opportunities available to them within the industry is an important way that we can support the development of a talent pipeline in the region.
“It would be fantastic to see one of the young people from Oasis Academy working on one of our developments in years to come!”
Oasis Academy teacher, James Gill, who leads the Bricklaying Club and accompanied the students during the visit, highlighted the importance of opportunities like this.
He said: “Construction is a neglected trade in schools; it’s underrepresented considering how important it is in the economy. That’s why it was a really valuable the opportunity that Beal Homes gave our students.
“Whilst our students have had the chance to build walls in our construction club after school, Beal Homes have shown them how those skills can become a career. They came back absolutely buzzing with ideas and interest in the industry.”