Students came from Acle Academy, The Hewitt School, Thorpe St Andrew School and City Academy. The week was designed to offer students an understanding of various roles within the construction sector, including project management, procurement, land buying, commercial, sales, bricklaying, carpentry, and marketing. The students had the unique opportunity to go on a working building site, engage in practical tasks and attend workshops throughout the week.
Activities varied from learning about how land is secured and the planning process involved, to asking the students to plot their own development using house type templates and a blank site plan, as well as feedback on why they made those choices and conduct a value exercise on their new site. Further into the week the students were shown what is involved in setting up a site and how to spot snags in a new house.
On Wednesday 13 June the group visited the William’s Park development, a joint venture with Flagship Homes in Wymondham. Whilst there they met some of the current Lovell apprentices to discuss what an apprenticeship with Lovell is like and ask questions, see the site and what goes on behind the hoarding, as well as have a go at bricklaying and carpentry too! At the end of the week the students were asked to create a mock marketing video to update and inform customers about a new home.
Jo Ruggles, training manager at Lovell, said: “Being able to offer structured work experience is important as we are able to show the next generation different pathways in construction and what a rewarding sector it is to work in, and make sure that they get the most out of the week. We had many of the Lovell team come to talk to them and present, and I would like to thank all the team for the work they put into the talks and practical tasks they set the students. We were incredibly impressed by the attitude of the students and we have had such wonderful feedback from them and their parents.”
One student said: “I liked the bricklaying, and it is something I would like to do in the future.”
Another student had this to say: ‘’Completing work experience with Lovell has given me a great insight into what it would be like to work in the industry, and I would highly recommend it to anyone else’’
Acle Academy said: “Lovell were a fantastic work experience placement provider. The team were extremely accommodating, and communication was good from start to finish. Our students enjoyed their week there and we would definitely like to see more of our students there next year!”
One of the parents of the students said: “They had an amazing week, learnt so much about the construction industry, and gained so much confidence. The Lovell team were so supportive.”
Another student said: “It was really good learning about all the different parts of construction that I didn't know before, for example, quantity surveying and land buying. The staff were easy to talk to and they knew what they were talking about.”
For more information on Lovell visit www.lovell.co.uk or follow Lovell on social media.
