Construction Bootcamp Helps Local Pupils Build Future Careers

Local school pupils have been given the opportunity to experience construction first-hand as part of a new partnership between Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council Labour Market Partnership and the Construction Industry Training Board NI (CITB NI). More than 80 pupils from four schools across the Borough took part in a one-day Construction Bootcamp at CITB NI Nutts Corner Training Centre on Tuesday 20 October.

The initiative is the first Construction Bootcamp of its kind delivered through the partnership and aims to raise awareness of the wide range of career opportunities available within Northern Ireland’s construction industry.

The Labour Market Partnerships are funded by the Department for Communities (DfC) to create targeted employment action plans for council areas, allowing for collaboration at local and regional levels to support people towards and into work.

Pupils from Parkhall Integrated College, Ballyclare Secondary School, St Benedict’s College, Randalstown, and Edmund Rice College, Glengormley took part in the event.

The event was attended by the Deputy Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, who met with pupils and representatives from CITB NI and the Council to hear about the initiative and the opportunities it is providing for young people across the Borough.

Deputy Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor Alison Bennington, said:

“It is great to see young people from across the Borough getting hands-on experience and learning about the many career opportunities available within construction. We are delighted to support this initiative with CITB NI and help our young people explore the skills and pathways available to them.”

Throughout the day, students learned about the different roles within the construction sector, the skills required and the various pathways into the industry. They also had the opportunity to get hands-on experience through job sampling sessions in bricklaying, joinery, painting and decorating, and tiling.

The programme also highlighted the range of routes available to young people, from apprenticeships and on-the-job training through to further and higher education. Students learned about the important role apprenticeships play in developing skills while allowing participants to gain recognised qualifications and valuable workplace experience.

Barry Neilson OBE, Chief Executive of CITB NI, said:

“We were delighted to work in partnership with Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council to provide local pupils with an opportunity to experience construction first-hand. The Construction Bootcamp enabled local students to try practical activities, learn about the many career opportunities available and gain a better understanding of the pathways into the industry. Initiatives such as this are important in inspiring the next generation and helping young people recognise the rewarding careers that construction can offer.”

The Construction Bootcamp is part of the wider work of Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council and CITB NI to promote skills development and help young people understand the opportunities available within the local economy.

With construction being one of Northern Ireland’s largest industries, the event highlighted that there are opportunities for people with a wide variety of interests, talents and skills, from specialist trades and technical roles to professional and management careers.

For the participating pupils, the day provided an opportunity not only to learn about construction, but to gain practical experience and consider how their own skills and interests could translate into a future career within the industry.