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CITB NI CONSTRUCTION BOOTCAMP ENCOURAGES STUDENTS TO ‘HAVE A GO’
CITB NI and School Employer Connections (SEC) recently partnered on a one-day face to face construction work experience Bootcamp at CITB NI, Nutts Corner Training Centre for over 70 Year 10 & 11 students from across Northern Ireland.
The programme provided students with a chance to learn about careers in construction, the many roles and routes into the industry and the benefits of a career in construction along with the opportunity to ‘have a go’ at a number of construction job sampling sessions in joinery, bricklaying, roofing, electrical, plumbing and flooring. The Bootcamp aimed to help increase students’ knowledge and awareness of the skills required and to identify trade occupations best suited to their skills base.
Students also had the opportunity to hear about options ranging from apprenticeship programmes to third level education. How construction apprenticeships are an important part of the career ladder and are beneficial to both the apprentice and the employer and, that learning on the job is crucial to skills development whilst gaining the formal qualifications at the same time.
Choosing a career in construction, students will open doors to joining specialist people all working together to build a strong, long lasting future. They will be choosing to join one of Northern Ireland’s largest industries. Whatever their talent they can be sure that there is a career in construction. A career pathway into the construction industry has never been so accessible.
By working in partnership with School Employer Connections, CITB NI is helping to bridge the gap between the world of work and the world of education, employers and the classroom, to enable students to develop knowledge, improve learning and allow them to gain a greater understanding of the world of work.
Chief Executive of CITB NI Barry Neilson said:
“ The CITB NI construction bootcamp in partnership with SEC is the perfect way for students to not only get hands on experience of real life construction activities but to help generate interest to build a career in construction. Not only did students have the opportunity to sample a wide range of construction trades but they were provided with guidance on the pathways into the industry including apprenticeships and third level education. It is a fantastic partnership and one we hope to continue and develop in the future.”
Owen Crozier, from SEConnections, added:
“CITB NI and SEC partnered to provide a creative solution to assist young people become more aware about careers, employability and work related matters in the construction industry by providing 'hands-on' construction trade job sampling activities which will enable them to make important career path decisions about their futures in the world of work."