Construction company Kier delivers workshop to a Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) school in Hounslow.
Published: Monday, 22nd July 2024
Construction company Kier has delivered a careers workshop to a Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) school in Hounslow as part of its new education programme, ‘Kierriculum’.
The team from Kier attended Marjory Kinnon School, one of the largest SEND schools in the country, to work with Year 11 students to challenge some of the stereotypes about careers available in the construction industry.
As part of the session, students took part in a series of games and tasks to develop their understanding of engineering and building techniques, whilst also having the opportunity to quiz the Kier team on their roles and how they got into the industry.
The one-day session was delivered as part of the new Kierriculum programme, a range of educational resources designed to address the skills’ shortage in the construction sector and encourage young people to consider a career in the industry.
Developed by industry experts and educators, Kierriculum will be available to schools and colleges across the UK and will provide a comprehensive library of resources to link school subjects with the real-world skills needed to build a career in construction.
Later this year, Marjory Kinnon students will have the opportunity to take part in a full six-week Kierriculum programme, where students will also get the opportunity to visit live construction sites.
Councillor Samia Chaudhary, Cabinet Member for Education, Children, Skills, and Employment at Hounslow Council, said:
“We’re delighted to support such an innovative programme and applaud the work Kier are doing with young people at Marjory Kinnon. It echoes the ethos behind our Youth, Skills and Employment Guarantee (YSEG), which seeks to develop and promote pathways that ensure young people in Hounslow are ready for the future, including those with special educational needs and disability (SEND).
Jake Gowers, Assistant Headteacher at Marjory Kinnon School, said:
“It’s been great to work with the Kier team and to see first-hand their excellent Kierriculum programme, which brings real work experience directly into the classroom.
“The children really enjoyed the day, especially the hands-on building activities, and we hope that the knowledge they have built in this one session alone will give them a better understanding of the wider world of work and what different working environments might look like.
“We’re now looking forwards to the full six-week programme in November, which will provide an even more in-depth understanding of the construction industry and variety of careers available.”
The session at Marjory Kinnon was delivered by the team from Kier Places, a Kier business which delivers workplace, residential, and building solutions in places where people live and work across the UK.
Sarah Hughes, social value coordinator at Kier Places, said:
“It was fantastic to meet the students at Marjory Kinnon and help them explore different career paths in our industry.
“Our approach to careers advice and guidance, through Kierriculum, aims to challenge stereotypes and broaden thinking about what a career in construction might look like. The students had lots of great questions and we’re now looking forwards to the full programme in November.”
Kier Places is currently delivering a fire door replacement programme for the London Borough of Hounslow, installing more than 4,500 fire doors to residential buildings across the borough.
