Students at a Midland college have been gaining first-hand experience of life on a building site - thanks to specialist retirement developer McCarthy & Stone.
A group of construction students from Stratford-upon-Avon College were given the opportunity to visit McCarthy & Stone's new Retirement Living development in Whitchurch, located on The Wharf, just off Mill Street.
The students, who are on a two-year Level 1 Foundation course in building crafts occupation, visited the site to find out all about the construction process. They were shown around by McCarthy & Stone's regional Construction Manager Andy Herbert, who helped arrange the visit.
Mr Herbert said the group of 10 students, aged 15 and 16, and two lecturers were given an introduction to the site, followed by a health and safety induction from himself and site manager Adam Middleton.
He said: "The students were split into groups for a tour of the site during which they saw a wide range of operations including groundworkers, dryliners and bricklayers.
"As well as explaining the work operations going on, we also had a question and answer session after the tour."
Mr Herbert, who is responsible for several McCarthy & Stone developments currently being built in the Midlands, added: "It is really important that young people interested in a career in construction get as much experience of the site workplace as possible and can see that there is a worthwhile end to study and improving their skills.
"It is essential for the long-term success of the construction industry. It is also very worthwhile to see what can be achieved in a very professional manner by site managers such as Adam Middleton who themselves started out as a tradesman."
Students from the college had previously visited McCarthy & Stone's Butter Cross Court development in Newport, Shropshire, earlier this year.
Alan McDermott, brickwork lecturer at Stratford-upon-Avon College, said: "They all found it very interesting to visit a site at various stages of building, and to see bricklayers and ground workers.
"We give the students the opportunity to return to do a diploma in carpentry or bricklaying, which is why we have tied up with Andy. He also gives them a site induction which they have never had before."
Construction for McCarthy & Stone's Whitchurch development, which consists of 35 one and two bedroom Retirement Living apartments, is due for completion in July 2012, with retirees being able to buy off plan from January 2012.
Key retirement features of the development will include a communal residents' lounge, a guest suite, laundry room and a lift providing access to all floors.
See Also: Property News (6705), McCarthy & Stone (410), Midlands (22), Stratford-upon-Avon (12), Whitchurch (1)
Date Published: 25 November 2011
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