The South Lincolnshire Group Training Association (SLGTA) Construction Skills Event that took place between the 24th to 26th March was proudly sponsored for the fourth consecutive year by Princebuild.

This year’s event was held over three days at the Peter Paine Performance Centre in Boston and provided the opportunity for local young people aged between 10 and 14 to “Have a Go” at some practical construction skills and get a taste for what a career in the industry may have to offer.

The event, now in its fifth year continues to grow and for the first time also included primary school pupils extending the event from two to three days and attracting over 500 children from 17 schools across the duration of the event.

Working in partnership with the SLGTA and local employers, Boston College supplied much of the expertise to arrange the 23 have a go activities that the young people could take part in. The activities covered both practical and technical skills and included activities like planning and design, bricklaying, plumbing, electrical, CITB tetrahedron, first aid, painting and decorating and suspension bridge building. Boston College students and ambassadors were also on hand to provide the young people with assistance in the activities and to share their experience of working in the construction industry.

Princebuild supplied the ‘Awards of Excellence’ medals which were awarded across the three days to star performers in each category. There were also trophies for school of the day and teacher of the day, as well as an award for the best Construction Ambassador won by Jack Dean, a Plumbing student at Boston College. These were presented by Barbara Mehew, Company HR Manager for Princebuild and Chairman of the SLGTA.

Princeenergy was also involved in the event delivering an interactive session to the primary school pupils on the first day. The session gave the pupils an insight into how Solar PV and Solar Thermal systems work, gave them a chance to see them working and to learn about the things which might affect how they operate. The four group sessions were delivered by Darren Richardson, Mechanical Technical Manager for Princeenergy and Jamie Holmes, who is a plumbing apprentice with Princeenergy. Both said the pupils were very keen to learn about solar power and seemed to really enjoy the activities.

Barbara Mehew commented; “Once again with the strong working partnership of the South Lincolnshire Group Training Association and Boston College, along with the support and goodwill of SLGTA members, training providers, local employers, apprentices and college students, we have been able to provide a fantastic insight into the construction industry for local school pupils.

“I am pleased to say that the Boston Construction Event 2015 has been a resounding success in promoting Careers in Construction and inspiring a new generation by giving hands on industry experience.”