Construction Youth Trust, together with Mace Foundation, delivered a three-day Engineering and construction course in Stratford where three NewVIc students Mohammed Safran Sadik, Gabriela Silva and Asif Sadequee were awarded certificates for successfully completing their Construction Professions 1 Credit Level 2.

Working closely with Construction Youth Trust, NewVIc has, to date, placed an impressive 150 students on the Open College Network London accredited course ‘Budding Brunels’. Its purpose is to increase awareness of different careers available in the sector and to develop employability skills; thereby raising aspirations and academic performance.

The course was made up of 18 students, 3 of whom were NewVIc students. Based in the East Village development in Stratford and taught over three days, the first day focused on students networking with volunteers, giving them the opportunity to learn about roles and responsibilities. The second day was based at the University of East London, where students developed their understanding of the complexity of planning and delivering a construction project. The third and final day saw students present their ideas to a panel of volunteers including Mace’s Business Unit Director for Public Estates, Research, Education, Arts and Culture and Healthcare, Terry Spraggett.

Naomi Ryan, Schools & FE Coordinator, Construction Youth said “The aim of this course was to not only give students the opportunity to see the range of careers in construction, but to also see how new developments in technology are changing the face of construction and opening up even more potential career paths for young people.  The students on this course were a pleasure to work with over the three days especially those from NewVIc who threw themselves into all the activities and are a credit to the college.”

Gabriela Silva, 19, studying A level Maths, Chemistry and Physics, said ‘’It was really impressive; we did everything from project management, to presenting our finished work. I loved the physics aspect of the course, for example examining the problem of too much tension on a wall and then finding a solution to divert the tension.’’

Gabriela and Asif have both been accepted on a week’s Civil Engineering placement with Mace. Both students performed really well on the course and at their interviews.

NewVIc’s Work Related Curriculum AdviserJane Nugent said “Students really benefit from the course, it opens their minds to the variety of job positions within the construction field, it improves their confidence and presentation skills which impacts all areas of their lives. Watching these students progress is not just inspirational to other students but to staff too’’.