The Construction industry is brilliant!
Creating the essential infrastructure and environments in which we live, work and play, the Construction Industry enriches society for everyone and is an exciting, challenging and rewarding place to build a career.
We opened the Construction Center in September 2010 and from the start we reached out to work with business in order to prepare our students for success in the world of work. Initially, focusing on providing students with trade based training in bricklaying, plumbing, plastering, carpentry, tiling, basic electrics and health and safety, we now deliver the City and Guilds Level 2 Technical Award in Constructing and Maintaining the Built Environment.
Over the years we have worked with Construction firms including Wates, bam, Crest Nicholson, Drew Smith, Barratts, Taylor Wimpey and currently Morgan Sindall.
First we developed the Construction Work Charter – a certificate awarded by industry mentors to students who demonstrated an agreed set of values, decent attendance and commitment to GCSE English and Maths.
Then, in order to raise the profile of Construction and in response to the EBacc (English Baccalaureate) we enhanced our approach to create The CBacc – Construction Baccalaureate Programme. This further helped to engage business mentors to support our students and inspire them into the industry, and proved very successful in securing our first student apprenticeship with Barratt Homes.
From this point we knew that commitment over time was key to supporting students from school and into the world of work – ‘Pathways’ was born!
The Pathway Tree is a perfect analogy for Pathways.
Talented, Respectful, Passionate and Committed students are in our education system – the soil. The roots represent the experiences that business mentors provide in order to inspire and draw these students up. The trunk represents the commitment over time and support that is given to the selected students through college and into further education. The branches represent the different businesses and areas of industry. The leaves represent the talent coming through and the full canopy represents a healthy and sustainable industry.
In partnership over time with business, students’ eyes are opened to the huge array of industry opportunities by providing experiences for them to discover what they enjoy. Talented, respectful, passionate and committed students are identified and offered pathways through further education and into apprenticeships and employment. A win-win for everyone involved!
Students are inspired by real opportunity for pathways into employment.
Business gain talented, respectful, passionate and committed employees.
Teachers benefit from engaged, motivated and inspired students.
We are currently working in partnership with Morgan Sindall Construction and in the last two years have secured Pathways sponsorship for 8 of our students. A huge success that we are keen to grow.
In October 2024, we were visited by our local MP Satvir Kaur (Southampton Test). You can watch this fantastic (and quite emotional) video here.
Construction is a hugely popular subject at Redbridge, and I am proud that whilst students work towards completing their City and Guilds Level 2 Technical Award in Constructing and Maintaining the Built Environment qualification, they also gain a fantastic insight into the industry and the opportunity to secure pathways to success.
