Civils & Lintels, part of the Huws Gray group of companies, has made a bold statement of support for Mates in Mind, a national charity that raises awareness of the stigma of poor mental health, especially in the construction sector. The nationwide leading distributor of lintels, drainage, and heavy-side building
In the heart of the Scottish Highlands lies Dalnavie Woodland, a thriving carbon offset project spanning 41 hectares, equivalent to 77 football pitches. With a commitment to combatting climate change and transforming land use, Dalnavie Woodland, supported by CPI Euromix, Potanow Forestry and CarbonStore, is making significant contributions to the
A big-hearted Scottish training officer has raised thousands of pounds for the industry charity which helped him face his own mental health issues. Frankie Greig, who oversees apprentices for the Scottish Electrical Charitable Training Trust (SECTT), cycled 324 miles from Venice to Milan in the Italian Lakes Cycle Event to
Midlands contractor, G F Tomlinson, has announced the Aortic Dissection Charitable Trust as its chosen charity for 2024. Aortic Dissection is a serious heart condition caused by a partial tear in the wall of the aorta, which prevents blood supply and can lead to the rupturing of organs. Seventy people
Primary school pupils from Bilsthorpe Flying High Academy (BFHA) in Newark have recently helped plant three trees at Harron Homes’ nearby development, Bilsthorpe Chase. These trees are the first to be planted at the development, which is set to become home to over 1,200 native trees in the next 2-3
Local housebuilder Redrow is continuing its support of nearby Ashford Rugby Football Club (ARFC) with brand new kits for the new year. Redrow South East, currently building a community at Crown Hill View in Ashford, Kent, is supporting the academy. Redrow’s sponsorship means each player within the academy, aged between
Housebuilder Cavanna Homes has chosen Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW) as its official charity partner. Staff at the family-owned Westcountry developer, which last year marked 100 years in business, unanimously backed the decision to support the charity, which provides care for children with life-limiting conditions. 2023 was the fifth consecutive
With Christmas fast approaching, staff, contacts and friends of the Cruden Group have come together to gather much-needed donations for local communities in Scotland. For the fourth year, the award-winning housebuilder has been encouraging those across its central belt operations to spread some joy by gifting food items and cash
SP Energy Networks has partnered with interpreting service, SignLive, to give customers the option to have their conversations translated into British Sign Language (BSL) for free. This collaboration will ensure that customers who are hard of hearing or have speech impairments can connect with the SP Energy Networks customer service
Carmarthenshire County Council and Bouygues UK, who are currently delivering the new prestigious, multi-million pound development Pentre Awel, held a Dragon’s Den style event to celebrate their 21st Century skills work experience scheme. Five local schools in Llanelli – Bryngwyn School, Coedcae School, Ysgol Pen Rhos, St John Lloyd RC
Civils & Lintels, part of the Huws Gray group of companies, has made a bold statement of support for Mates in Mind, a national charity that raises awareness of the stigma of poor mental health, especially in the construction sector. The nationwide leading distributor of lintels, drainage, and heavy-side building materials for the UK’s construction industry, raised over £21,000 for the charity in 2023 and is now rolling out refreshed signage on its fleet of 95 LGVs providing details of their free text helpline service. The idea was the brainchild of Westbury-based driver Mark Byers, who unveiled the first truck to sport the new design. He commented: “Having suffered with my own mental health, I’m really proud that this has happened. “As a lorry driver, you spend lots of time on your own and if you’re not feeling 100% it’s good to know that you can reach out to a great charity like Mates in Mind. Of course, those on building sites often also suffer in silence. Now, when they see this on my truck, they might be encouraged to give them a call.” The Civils & Lintels team carried out a series of fundraising events throughout 2023 that included dedicated colleagues shaving their hair and beards off; one colleague travelling to all 18 Dutch Eredivisie stadiums in just 24 hours; sky-dives, teams climbing the equivalent of Mount Everest; collectively walking the equivalent distance of the route between all Civils & Lintels depots (over 1,200 miles) in one month; and a variety of cake sales, raffles and comedy nights, which all contributed to the impressive amount raised. Managing Director of Civils & Lintels, Allan Wright recently joined the board of trustees at Mates in Mind, he comments: “It’s vital that we focus our fundraising efforts on a cause that resonates with our own team. Mates in Mind has built a reputation for addressing issues around poor mental health in the construction industry and given the focus of our own work, the synergy is clear. “I joined the board at Mates in Mind as a further demonstration of our commitment to this important charity and when Mark suggested we include details of the charity on our fleet of trucks it made perfect sense to do so. Those trucks not only reach our own nationwide teams across our 19 depots, but also our myriad of customers across housebuilding, groundworks, civil engineering and commercial contractors. Anything that we can do to encourage greater support around tackling poor mental health is time well-spent.” Civils & Lintels has pledged to continue its support to Mates in Mind in 2024 Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
In the heart of the Scottish Highlands lies Dalnavie Woodland, a thriving carbon offset project spanning 41 hectares, equivalent to 77 football pitches. With a commitment to combatting climate change and transforming land use, Dalnavie Woodland, supported by CPI Euromix, Potanow Forestry and CarbonStore, is making significant contributions to the environment and the local community. Dalnavie Woodland boasts the planting of approximately 100,000 trees, with 90% being productive conifers, including Norway and Sitka spruce, and Douglas fir. Additionally, four hectares of broadleaves are strategically planted around the perimeter to seamlessly integrate the woodland into the local scenery. This conversion from low-density grazing land represents a commendable collaboration between CPI Euromix and Potanow Forestry, aligning shared objectives of combating climate change and utilising land for both environmental and agricultural benefits. Over the next 45 years, Dalnavie Woodland is poised to achieve three significant objectives: CPI Euromix’s Investment and Partnership CPI’s commitment to carbon capture at Dalnavie has played a vital role in supporting the woodland’s objectives. This marks the second successful partnership between CPI and Potanow Forestry, following a collaboration at Corwar Woodland in Dumfries and Galloway. CPI’s investment in Dalnavie, coupled with previous support at Corwar, underscores their dedication to sustainable forestry practices and carbon offset initiatives. Tony O’Sullivan, CEO of CPI Euromix, said: “Dalnavie Woodland stands as a testament to the transformative power of sustainable forestry practices and collaborative efforts in combating climate change. Through CPI and Potanow Forestry’s dedication, this carbon offset project not only contributes to carbon capture but also improves economic growth, job creation, and the sustainable use of land.” Between Dalnavie and Corwar, CPI’s support has led to the planting of over 170,000 trees across 70 hectares, with a combined potential to capture almost 16,469 tonnes of carbon. This partnership exemplifies the positive outcomes achievable when companies prioritise environmental stewardship and work collaboratively to address climate change Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A big-hearted Scottish training officer has raised thousands of pounds for the industry charity which helped him face his own mental health issues. Frankie Greig, who oversees apprentices for the Scottish Electrical Charitable Training Trust (SECTT), cycled 324 miles from Venice to Milan in the Italian Lakes Cycle Event to raise money in aid of the Electrical Industries Charity (EIC). The dad-of-three, who looks after young learners at West College Scotland, Paisley Campus, said he undertook the gruelling challenge to repay the charity after it helped him with his own wellbeing. Frankie, 41, said: “The EIC is all about helping people when they need it most and I’ve benefited from their support as I suffer from poor mental health. “I know that the EIC has also done a lot for my apprentices as well as some of the adult trainees at West College Scotland so I’m delighted I can give something back to the charity for its support.” During the five-day challenge in October, Frankie said he learned quickly to go at his own pace and the tactic worked as he successfully completed the trek, raising £2,880 for the EIC. He revealed: “There was a big hill every day and they ranged from not bad to really steep then on to pretty vicious. I think the first day was the worst as the road just kept on climbing for seven miles. “However, it was the best feeling when we got to the top and could then freewheel down the other side at 30-40mph giving your legs a welcome rest.” He said: “Personally, I got a great deal from my experience in Italy and although I was slower than the rest of the guys and struggled more on the hills, I got over the finish line and I’m proud of that. “It made me realise I shouldn’t have worried about too many things – I just needed to focus on what’s important, rather than worry about all the miles ahead. “There were times I doubted I could complete the challenge but every evening I was buoyed up by the messages of support on social media from my family, colleagues and friends in the industry. “I would encourage anyone in the electrical world that has considered taking part in one of these challenges to sign up and help the EIC continue the amazing work they do. “I would like to thank SELECT and the Scottish Joint Industry Board (SJIB) and all their members, and everyone who sponsored me and supported me through this challenge, not forgetting SECTT. I couldn’t have done it without them. “It was an amazing trip and I saw some beautiful sights, but I can assure you it was anything but a holiday.” Alan Wilson, Managing Director of SELECT, said: “Many congratulations to Frankie in completing this exhausting challenge. We applaud too his personal courage in being willing to speak out about issues which sometimes, tragically, remain hidden. “The electrical sector, and the construction industry as a whole, has become much more aware of the importance of mental health, especially since the pandemic, and has redoubled its efforts to support our people and maintain their wellbeing. “I’m sure Frankie’s story will be an inspiration to many in the industry and the money will be used by the EIC to support others needing help.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Midlands contractor, G F Tomlinson, has announced the Aortic Dissection Charitable Trust as its chosen charity for 2024. Aortic Dissection is a serious heart condition caused by a partial tear in the wall of the aorta, which prevents blood supply and can lead to the rupturing of organs. Seventy people are diagnosed with the condition each week in the UK and Ireland with only an average survival rate of 50%. The Aortic Dissection Charitable Trust aims to help raise awareness and funding for research into early detection, supporting prevention, treatment, and cures for the condition, which if diagnosed and treated in time, has an 80% survival rate. Having received a letter from Pauline Latham, OBE MP who has been writing to local businesses in Derbyshire asking them to support the charity following the sad loss of her son, Ben, in 2018 from the condition, Group Chairman, Andy Sewards was keen to pledge G F Tomlinson’s support as their chosen charity for 2024. As part of its commitment to the charity, the contractor will be hosting a variety of fundraising events from January through to December next year to help towards prevention and treatment of the condition, in the hope that it will save many more lives. Andy Sewards said: “We are honoured to be supporting such a worthy charity for 2024. Aortic Dissection is a serious condition and it’s vital that we work together to raise awareness for its diagnosis and treatment, to prevent unnecessary fatalities. “In line with our social value ethics and support for local charities, we will be planning multiple fundraising events throughout 2024 to ensure that we help the trust continue with its incredible work for next year and beyond.” Pauline Latham said: “I am so grateful to G F Tomlinson for their wholehearted support for Aortic Dissection. Many people don’t know anything about it until their family is devastated by it. The more we can do to prevent unnecessary deaths the better. We need better outcomes for patients and G F Tomlinson’s support will really help the charity’s ability to fund research into this little-known condition. I want to thank them for all they will be doing over this year.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Primary school pupils from Bilsthorpe Flying High Academy (BFHA) in Newark have recently helped plant three trees at Harron Homes’ nearby development, Bilsthorpe Chase. These trees are the first to be planted at the development, which is set to become home to over 1,200 native trees in the next 2-3 years. The official planting ceremony saw three BFHA pupils assist both Carrier Landscapers and Harron Home’s Bilsthorpe Chase Site Team in planting three native oaks on the development’s village green. Perhaps the most familiar of British species, the oaks, once grown, will complement Bilsthorpe Chase’s peaceful rural feel while adding touches of greenery to the picturesque development. The pupils of Bilsthorpe Flying High Academy were ready with spades and hi-vis to help plant the trees. Despite the poor weather conditions on the day, they proved themselves intrepid and handy gardeners, patiently waiting out the winter rain before venturing outdoors during a spot of sunshine to get the job done. The Bilsthorpe Chase site team, led by Site Manager Kevin Adlington, was on hand to guide the pupils and help them plant the trees. Assisting them were Carrier Landscapers’ David Hazeldine, Ben Grabham, and Joe Carnell, who provided their own expertise to ensure the pupils planted the trees safely and securely. Once all the trees have been planted, they will contribute a great deal towards reducing the levels of air pollution and making the local environment more biodiverse. Developments like Bilsthorpe Chase take these well-known benefits of rural living and combine them with the convenience and comforts of a more modern lifestyle. Built to the highest specification and designed to be both stylish and comfortable, the variety of two, three, four and five bedroom homes are perfect for couples, families, and individuals alike. With Sherwood Pines only a few miles away, and myriad scenic walks and cycling routes surrounding the development, Bilsthorpe Chase provides its residents with the best of both worlds. Claire Gibbins, Sales Manager for Harron Homes North Midlands, said: “At Harron Homes we know that even small touches of greenery can transform the look and feel of a development. But woodland areas and forests are also vital in improving the biodiversity of the areas we build in. This planting marks the first step in what is set to be a really great change for the development. “It was great to see the next generation get involved with nature in this way. The kids were a real help on the day, and we hope they will be proud to see the oaks grow and blossom in the coming years.” Samantha Leek, Headteacher at BFHA, said: “It was wonderful to give the pupils an opportunity to get some hands-on experience planting trees. Through our curriculum we aim to provide our pupils with a wealth of knowledge on the science and history of the planet and its environment. Being able to couple their learning with practical experience such as this provides a brilliant opportunity for enhancing their education, and it’s a key part of what we aim to do at BFHA. Of course, more importantly, it was a lot of fun too!” Homes at Bilsthorpe Chase start at £318,995 and the development can be found at Kirklington Road, Bilsthorpe, Newark, Nottinghamshire, NG22 8SH. For more information on Bilsthorpe Chase please visit: https://www.harronhomes.com/find-a-home/nottinghamshire/bilsthorpe-chase/. For more information on Bilsthorpe Flying High Academy please visit: https://www.bilsthorpeflyinghighacademy.co.uk/. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Local housebuilder Redrow is continuing its support of nearby Ashford Rugby Football Club (ARFC) with brand new kits for the new year. Redrow South East, currently building a community at Crown Hill View in Ashford, Kent, is supporting the academy. Redrow’s sponsorship means each player within the academy, aged between 15 to 18, plus coaches, will have a brand-new, high-quality kit to wear during their training sessions and weekly matches. In addition to brand new training shirts, the donation includes a soft shell jacket, water bottle and other accessories within the ‘goodie bags’. Founded in 1885, ARFC has been at the heart of the community for 138 years. Based at Kinneys Field, just a stone’s throw from Crown Hill View, ARFC comprises four adult teams, a ladies’ team, and multiple youth teams. Run by volunteers, ARFC relies on local businesses to help it support residents to have fun and be active. Ben Fewsdale, Managing Director at Redrow South East, comments: “As part of our commitment to create thriving communities, we’re proud to support Ashford Rugby Football Club and its players. “Local sports teams play a crucial role in enabling communities to lead active lifestyles and get to know one another. They create a fun, safe environment for both adults and children to learn new skills, that they can transfer to either school or work, and help people make friends for life. “Ashford is home to a variety of community groups which make the area a great place to live. We know that behind these organisations are volunteers and that many of the organisations rely on the support of local businesses like us to be able to continue. We are delighted to support ARFC and wish them luck for the year ahead!” Tim Scrivens, Coach at Ashford Rugby Football Club Academy, adds: “Redrow has been a long-time supporter of Ashford Rugby club, primarily supporting one team of players as they transition through the club. Redrow’s initial involvement, with the team, started in 2019 funding training tops to keep players warm and dry throughout the cold winters, umbrellas for parents, and new, much-needed, equipment to ensure the team was coached safely. Earlier this year, we took the whole squad to The Rugby Youth Festival, Portugal; Redrow’s support provided a ‘tour kit’ for all lads with the funding to ensure that no player, who wanted to go, was left behind, providing some players with a once in a lifetime experience. “This season, Redrow has been even more generous, extending their support to encompass all age groups that make up the Ashford RFC Academy. I’d like to take this opportunity to say a very sincere thank you to Redrow for their continued support, it has really made a huge difference, over the years, to our community. I hope that the collaboration continues for years to come.” With first completions expected in Spring 2024, Crown Hill View comprises a collection of three and four bedroom semi-detached and detached homes that are ready to reserve now. Each home is heated by an air source heat pump and comes with underfloor heating as standard on the ground floor, helping customers to lower their energy use. As well as being a desirable feature for customers, the lack of ground-floor radiators gives customers even more living space. Crown Hill View is set within the charming county of Kent, lying on the Southern edge of the North Downs, making it ideal for those looking for a balance between town and countryside living. The development is approximately one mile away from Ashford town centre, providing access to plenty of amenities in and around the historic market town. Interested buyers can find out more about the award-winning homes on offer by visiting the brand new Customer Experience Suite, opening on Saturday 13th January 2024, and the new four bedroom Oxford show home, styled by Redrow’s award winning interior design team. Alternatively, visit https://www.redrow.co.uk/developments/crown-hill-view-conningbrook-212680. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Housebuilder Cavanna Homes has chosen Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW) as its official charity partner. Staff at the family-owned Westcountry developer, which last year marked 100 years in business, unanimously backed the decision to support the charity, which provides care for children with life-limiting conditions. 2023 was the fifth consecutive year that Cavanna Homes’ employees have undertaken fundraising events on behalf of CHSW, which have included a corporate golf day, the £50 challenge, homemade pizza lunches and bake sales, as well as the epic 225-mile Ride for Precious Lives charity bike ride. Melanie Potter, Head of the Charity Committee at Cavanna Homes said: “We have a long association with CHSW which does such marvellous and important work. It makes perfect sense to make them our official charity partner and we’re really pleased to be dedicating our future fundraising efforts to support them.” The charity provides hospice care for children and young people with life-limiting conditions, offering support for their whole family. It has hospice accommodation at Little Bridge House in Devon, Charlton Farm in Somerset and Little Harbour in Cornwall. Last summer, a team of eight cyclists from the firm rode from the Little Harbour hospice, near St Austell, to Charlton Farm hospice in North Somerset, a distance of 225-miles over three days, raising more than £11,000 for the charity. They joined around 100 cyclists for the marathon Ride for Precious Lives, crossing Bodmin Moor, Exmoor and the Mendip Hills to reach their destination. In total more than £300,000 was raised from the challenge. Daniela Hopkins, Area Fundraiser for CHSW said: “Cavanna Homes has partnered with CHSW since 2019, and in that time, they have raised in excess of £100,000! We are delighted that they continue to show their commitment to CHSW by choosing to partner with us again. “Their support over the years has made such a huge difference and we are incredibly grateful for all of their hard work and commitment in supporting our hospices. The funds raised by Cavanna Homes will help our hospices continue to provide care for families with children and young people who have life-limiting conditions and are not expected to live into adulthood.” Cavanna Homes’ Managing Director Grayham Tucker added: “As a business deeply embedded in the South West it is important for us to support good causes in the region with our charity fundraising. CHSW has become a charity very close to all our hearts. We’re proud to make them our official charity partner.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
With Christmas fast approaching, staff, contacts and friends of the Cruden Group have come together to gather much-needed donations for local communities in Scotland. For the fourth year, the award-winning housebuilder has been encouraging those across its central belt operations to spread some joy by gifting food items and cash donations for those who need a little extra help this festive period. In partnership with UK charity, The Trussell Trust, a total of 8,000 food and household items were collected and distributed to six food banks across Airdrie, East Lothian, Edinburgh, Gorebridge and Glasgow last week. Cruden’s winter appeal has also raised a fantastic cash donation of almost £11,000 for The Trussell Trust, which will be used to purchase more day-to-day necessities for vulnerable people. £5000 of the total amount raised has been donated by Cruden’s linked charitable trust, The Cruden Foundation. Colin Kennedy, Construction Director of Cruden, said: “Bringing our team together to support local people has once again brought a heartwarming end to the year. We’re proud to be working with The Trussell Trust for the fourth consecutive year to give back to our communities. “Despite challenging conditions for everyone, our food bank appeal has received an overwhelmingly generous level of support and we’re extremely grateful to everyone who has shown their kindness and donated. The solidarity of our staff and valued contacts, and their dedication to helping others, never ceases to amaze me. We’ve achieved our best results yet and I hope our donations help bring a smile to many local faces this year .” Emma Revie, Chief Executive at the Trussell Trust said: “Thank you to the team at Cruden Group for their incredible support. This winter is expected to be the toughest yet, with food banks in our network distributing more than 1 million parcels between December and February which equates to one every eight seconds. Food bank teams are working tirelessly to ensure help continues to be available, but ultimately, no-one in the UK should need to turn to a food bank as all of us should have enough money for the essentials. “The support of Cruden Group will help food banks within our network continue to provide emergency support, while we work together in the long term to build a country without the need for food banks. Thank you so much.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
SP Energy Networks has partnered with interpreting service, SignLive, to give customers the option to have their conversations translated into British Sign Language (BSL) for free. This collaboration will ensure that customers who are hard of hearing or have speech impairments can connect with the SP Energy Networks customer service team for support via a qualified BSL interpreter. Using a Video Relay Service (VRS), BSL users can make video calls via their tablet, smartphone, computer or laptop and a professional BSL interpreter will provide two-way translation to a member of the customer service team, with text option also available on the video call. SP Energy Networks’ new partnership with SignLive comes as recent findings revealed that there are 11 million people who are deaf or hard of hearing and over 150,000 BSL users in the UK . This initiative will make the process of calling the customer service team easier and more interactive for many of those people. The SignLive service will remove barriers to communication for SP Energy Network’s customers, making services such as its Priority Services Register (PSR) more accessible than ever before. The PSR offers a wide range of support for customers who have special communication needs, are over the age of 60, have children under the age of 5, have a chronic illness or mobility issues. This includes proactive engagement if there’s a known power outage in the local area and providing access to a dedicated welfare number during periods of storms. The introduction of the SignLive service will ensure BSL users are able to access support they are entitled to with ease, something which is particularly crucial during the winter months. Kendal Morris, Customer Service Director at SP Energy Networks said: “We are committed to making our services accessible to everyone and our partnership with SignLive marks a significant step forward towards this. “SignLive has created an amazing solution for our customers who use British Sign Language or are hard of hearing, allowing them to engage in direct conversations with our team without relying on friends or family members. “Customers can now get in contact in a way that is easy and convenient for them and be reassured they are supported in the event of a power cut.” SignLive, founded in 2014 by Joel Kellhofer, has consistently aimed to eliminate communication barriers and enhance the quality of life for the deaf community through the highest quality interpreting services and technology. Fiona Mackay, Chief Operating Officer at SignLive said: “We’re so pleased to be working with SP Energy Networks and commend them for becoming more accessible to Deaf customers. This partnership will make communication simpler and easier for BSL users giving customers a way to get in touch at the tap of a button.” For more information about SP Energy Networks and its SignLive services, visit: spenergynetworks.co.uk
Carmarthenshire County Council and Bouygues UK, who are currently delivering the new prestigious, multi-million pound development Pentre Awel, held a Dragon’s Den style event to celebrate their 21st Century skills work experience scheme. Five local schools in Llanelli – Bryngwyn School, Coedcae School, Ysgol Pen Rhos, St John Lloyd RC Comprehensive and Ysgol Y Strade – took part in the event aimed at empowering learners to discover careers in construction and design, a culmination of a 12-week learning and mentoring programme based around the world of building and construction. When the scheme was launched in May 2023, each school was given a brief to design a collaborative workspace, that aligned with the ethos of Pentre Awel; innovation, positive health and well-being and environmentally-sustainable design. During that time, they were mentored by Bouygues UK staff and had visits to site several times to develop their designs briefs and help them prepare for their final pitch to a panel of judges. The judging panel was made up of a diverse group of professionals from Bouygues UK, Carmarthenshire County Council and Gleeds Project Consultancy. The pupils had just 10-minutes to put their best foot forward and showcase their final designs, including the development journey they had been on and examples of how their mentors helped them along the way. Each school was responsible for their pitch and how they wanted to present to the panel, with some writing additional bid documents to support their presentation, some presenting 3D scale models, and others demonstrating digital fly-throughs of their designs. One group brought along a collection of plants to demonstrate their biophilic wall design. The designs on the day were so impressive that the judges found it difficult to single out one school as an overall winner; St John Lloyd RC Comprehensive and Ysgol Y Strade were crowned joint winners while primary school Ysgol Pen Rhos won the innovation/sustainability award for their biophilic design and carbon capture ideas. Nina Williams, Bouygues UK’s social value advisor for Pentre Awel, said: “The input from all the schools was outstanding with some amazing designs and concepts based around the four themes. The most rewarding part has been the way in which the learners have developed in confidence. “At the beginning of the experience they were all very nervous to ask questions, the mentors being unfamiliar to them, but by the time they were preparing for their final pitch, they were working round the table, firing off ideas, listening to the mentor’s advice and having conversations about how to change and improve their designs. The project has helped the schools to build future relationships with industries, utilising the knowledge and experience of professionals to enhance and develop their knowledge base which can be applied in their future curriculum design.” Project Director Peter Sharpe said: “It’s been really refreshing to take time out of my normal day-to-day activities to listen to the five presentations. The information and depth of knowledge and understanding of the brief were absolutely fantastic. I’m sure there will be some aspects of the learner’s designs that we could incorporate into the building. A project like this is of great value to the world of construction.” Aeron Rees, Head of Strategy and Learner Support at Carmarthenshire County Council, added: “It’s been an honour and a privilege to be part of the judging panel. The youngsters equipped themselves very well and they were inspiring in what they had to say and what they delivered. This project shows a superb example of the synergy between the business community and education, and we are really indebted to Bouygues UK and our colleagues in the council for facilitating this for our learners.” As part of Bouygues UK’s commitment to provide significant social value and engagement to surrounding schools, colleges and universities, there is also a school ambassadors scheme. Bouygues UK is keen for the children to share their ideas and help shape the project, which in turn will enable them to see first-hand the work that goes into the construction process. The children will make regular visits to the site to see the progress being made and will work on school projects centred around construction and building. The 21st Century Skills initiative is part of a broader programme of community benefits to be delivered during the development of Zone 1 of Pentre Awel to realise social, economic, cultural, and environmental benefits. This includes targeted recruitment and training, community engagement, STEM activities and supply chain engagement. Pentre Awel is a truly collaborative scheme being delivered for the local community by Carmarthenshire County Council in partnership with Hywel Dda University Health Board, Universities and colleges and is part-funded by the Swansea Bay City Deal (£40million). It aims to create around 1,800 jobs over 15 years and boost the local economy by more than £450m. The development will include a new state-of-the-art leisure centre and hydrotherapy pool together with education, research and business development space; a clinical research and delivery centre; and a well-being skills centre. Externally, Pentre Awel will enjoy landscaped outdoor public spaces for recreation, walking and cycling. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
