Businesses, students and the general public are being encouraged to sign up to attend the biggest and best construction and engineering careers, trade and networking event in the North – Foundations Live.
Foundations Live, which launched in 2016, is a unique event that enables anyone to explore the huge variety of career options available within the construction and engineering industries, whilst meeting hundreds of people from companies that operate across Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.
Builders merchant, Jewson, has exhibited and sponsored Foundations Live every year since its inception. Ken Wilson, from Jewson, said: “Foundations Live brings the industry together under one roof and focuses on inspiring the next generation of talent. It’s a hugely beneficial event to attend, as we not only help people understand more about their career options, but also network with industry peers, meet clients and consultants, as well as showcase the diversity of what our business and industry as a whole has to offer.”
Students from primary and secondary schools, colleges and further education establishments and anyone with an interest in the construction sector can attend Foundations Live, which takes place at Bishop Burton College on 20th October, for free. The event is run in partnership with the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) and hosts more than 50 exhibitors, providing the very latest digital demonstrations and informative drop-in sessions to engage learners of all ages – from primary school pupils to adult re-trainers – with construction and engineering.
Director, David Blades, from construction firm and event organiser, Hobson & Porter, said: “With the huge skills shortages that our industry is facing, it’s everyone’s responsibility to work together to attract more people from every background into our industry. We all know what needs to happen, and we can’t ignore the crisis our industry is facing – we need to work together to attract new talent and train and nurture those people, as ultimately if we all pull together everyone benefits.”
Darren Storrer, head of the Institute of Building Technologies, from Hull College, said: “Attendance at Foundations Live is a must for any student wanting to learn about their career options and we certainly missed it when Covid restrictions were in place for two years. So, we can’t wait to return this year and bring over our learners from all vocational pathways. The event is informative and a great hands-on day, where our learners can talk to employers, contractors and suppliers and see the latest innovations in construction. With the focus being on environmental and sustainability, we are educating the future of the industry.
“Typically, there are more than 800 students from all over the North who attend, and they get so much out of it. With all the big regional employers, as well as representatives from every sector of the industry, it’s an action-packed informative day that brings real employability benefits to our learners. We have had learners that have secured work experience and apprenticeships through connections made at the event, and lots of learners find out about new areas of the industry that they previously thought was inaccessible to them.”
This year, representatives from Talentview Construction will be attending Foundations Live to help students find first jobs, apprenticeships, and work experience opportunities, specifically in construction. Funded by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) and supported by Government, Talentview Construction is an online platform for young people to show their skills and experience to employers actively recruiting for early-careers positions.
Christian Warden, engagement director at Talentview Construction, said: “Our platform does online what Foundations Live does in person, so it’s great to be working together to showcase all of the fantastic opportunities in the construction sector and discuss all of the different routes to get there. The CITB’s Construction Skills Network report says that we need to add more than a quarter of a million workers to the industry by 2026 – that’s 53,200 additional workers every year – to keep pace with demand. Bridging that gap between education and industry is key to meeting these targets and we’re looking forward to meeting the next generation of construction professionals at the event.”
Registration for the event is open now via www.foundationslive.co.uk
Information for colleges and further education establishments can be found at www.foundationslive.co.uk/colleges-and-further-education
Information for secondary schools can be found at www.foundationslive.co.uk/information-for-secondary-schools