Developed by Moray Skills Pathway in partnership with its Construction Sector group, it follows on from the success of last year’s ‘Constructing Your Future’ event, the first of its kind in the region. 

The event gives young people the opportunity to meet with local employers and gain a deeper insight into the diverse career options available to them within the construction industry.

A total of 120 pupils were invited to participate in four interactive workshops – out of a series of ten – delivered by a range of specialist employers across the region. 

These included workshops on the role of solar power in the construction industry, the use of virtual reality in Building Information Modelling (BIM), the opportunity to experience a plant simulator and learn more about civil engineering, project planning, quantity surveying, joinery, plumbing, bricklaying and electrical engineering.

The event forms a key part of the ‘Moray Skills Pathway’ strategy, which aims to encourage collaboration between education bodies and industry to offer curriculum support and practical application for young people.

Frank Reid, managing director of Robertson Northern, said: “The construction industry is expected to grow faster than any other industry in Moray and through the Constructing Your Future event we want to demonstrate to young people the huge variety of roles available within the sector.

“Our work with the Moray Skills Pathway is part of the ongoing commitment we have with Developing the Young Workforce and our own Young People Strategy. It was therefore fantastic for us to see so many pupils interested in exploring a career in construction and we hope this event has given them a taster of the exciting opportunities available to them.”

As part of the Moray Skills Pathway, an initiative that forms part of the Moray Council’s Education strategy, Robertson is chairing the Construction Sector group and works alongside the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), Springfield Properties, AES Solar Ltd, Balfour Beatty, Morrison Construction, Moray Council, McDonald & Munro and Moray College.

Each of these local partners pledged commitment to the young people of Moray, aged 3 – 24 years old, in a scheme that will bring future employment opportunities and continued development to local school children and young people.

The Moray Skills Pathway has identified eight key growth sectors in Moray including; construction, learning and childcare, health and life sciences, engineering and manufacturing, and food and drink. Every child in the Moray area will have a minimum of four experiences in these fields before making their final subject choices.

Maxine Garson, education support officer at Moray Council, explained how important these events are to pupils.

She said: “The Constructing your Future event is one in a series of sector days to support S3 pupils to make more informed choices about their future pathways.

“With it being led by industry it has key employability messages on the broad range of careers and the importance of transferable skills to access the opportunities locally and further afield, they also outline the fast moving developments for future jobs in the sector.

“The feedback from the pupils has been fantastic and they really value the opportunity to speak to the employers face to face.”