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Countryside Properties helps students build a future in construction

Countryside Properties has been offering tradesmen of the future a foot up the career ladder by giving construction students from Warrington Collegiate the opportunity to learn some tricks of the trade on a working site.

Faced with an increasing shortfall of skilled workers within the construction industry, Countryside Properties got together with Warrington Collegiate to offer a number of practical training opportunities for students and encourage the already flourishing talent of local apprentices.

Donning their hard hats and getting their hands dirty, students from the college joined the construction team at Carrington Park to gain some practical work experience in joinery and plumbing in a bid to help build a successful career in the construction trade.

Countryside Properties Construction Director, Andy Dwyer, commented: "Practical training in the construction industry is sparse and we're proud to be in the position to support and encourage the education of local apprentices in the trade. At Countryside Properties we believe in creating sustainable communities and that goes way beyond just building homes."

Peter Fleming, a 20-year-old carpentry and joinery student, commented: "Working for Countryside has been a fantastic opportunity for us. We've learnt so much and we've been able to put all the skills we've learnt at college to practical use. It's been hard work but to see the finished product has been so satisfying, we've helped create real homes for people to live in."

Alongside Peter have been fellow students Daniel Smithers (18) and David Walker (18) both studying plumbing at Warrington College. The learning experience has given the trio a real taster of the world of work and helped them appreciate the effort and detail that goes into building quality homes.

Andy added: "It's worthwhile for the students to get some hands on experience and give them true insight into the inner workings of a construction site. They've been conscientious and hard working, and a lot of fun to have around and they may even end up working for us some day."

Warrington Collegiate construction and technology faculty director, Mark Stott commented: "The courses that we offer are very vocational and my thanks go to Countryside Properties for giving our students the opportunity to have a taste of the construction industry, and to put into practice the skills that they have gained whilst studying a construction course at Warrington Collegiate. Experiences like this serve to strengthen the skills that they learn along the way and prepare them for their trade."