The Building a Lasting Legacy (BALL) programme gives students hands-on experience in construction. Over 100 year 9 students from Hylands School, The Boswells School and The Sandon School took part this year.
The programme is run in partnership with Morgan Sindall Construction and the Greater Essex Careers Hub.
At a celebration event at Chelmsford College on 19 June, students engaged in a series of workshops. They tried out skills like:
- bricklaying
- carpentry
- plumbing
- painting and decorating
- digital design
Parents and carers also joined the event. They heard from employers about career paths and what skills are needed in the industry.
Eight students received certificates for their hard work and enthusiasm.
The programme is supported by 20 local construction companies. It includes workshops, site visits and mentoring.
Councillor Tony Ball, Cabinet Member for Education Excellence, Lifelong Learning and Employability, said:
“The success of the first year of Building a Lasting Legacy shows the value of education and industry coming together. Students have grown in confidence, gained new skills and are seeing construction as a real career option. It’s a strong foundation for the years ahead”
The programme lasts five years, following the journey of the year 9 students until they leave education.