School pupils from secondary schools across Gwynedd recently got a feel for green construction through the Llwyddo’n Lleol initiative that highlights the different career and business opportunities that exist within five growth sectors in Gwynedd, including the Green Economy.
The Growth Sector Events are part of the Llwyddo’n Lleol project. Llwyddo’n Lleol is a £3.8 million project jointly funded by the EU’s Convergence European Social Fund through the Welsh Government, Gwynedd Council and the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and the 14-19 Network. It aims to help 11-19 year olds develop their entrepreneurial skills and to learn about the growth sectors in Gwynedd.
CITB-ConstructionSkills Wales, the Sector Skills Council and Industry Training Board for construction, was invited to work in partnership with Llwyddo’n Lleol and run events about sustainability and low carbon construction, with support from Lovell, Tai Eryri Housing Association, Wynne Construction and Carbon Zero. One of the awareness days was held in Caernarfon and attended by pupils from schools including Ysgol Dyffryn Nantlle, Ysgol Tryfan and Ysgol Friars, the other was held at Congl Meinciau in Botwnnog for pupils from Ysgol Botwnnog.
Through a series of hands-on activities and presentations the initiative highlighted to the pupils the employment and self-employment opportunities green construction will offer them in the future, in their local area.
The days offered an insight into the varied and rewarding careers in green construction and the different routes of entry to the industry. As there is a real drive to encourage more girls to follow Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, the majority of the pupils that took part were girls.
Lowri Jones, Project Co-ordinator for Llwyddo’n Lleol said “The pupils were given the opportunity to build a bungalow, see a BREEAM Excellence building and quiz many employers. They heard about the developments that will provide future job and business opportunities within the sector – from The Cut the Carbon Campaign to The Green Deal. At the end of the event held in Botwnnog, 100% of the pupils agreed or agreed to an extent that there are plenty of opportunities to get a job in the green economy sector in Gwynedd. This is an excellent result. Thank you to Construction Skills and all the employers who took part.”
Celia Williams, Area Delivery Manager for CITB-ConstructionSkills Wales said: “This initiative has been a fantastic success. As an organisation we are committed to working on behalf of industry to bring new blood into the sector which events like this help us to achieve.
“We wanted to generate a ‘can do’ attitude amongst the pupils and based on the school evaluations we have clearly raised awareness of green construction and the range of exciting and varied careers it has to offer right here in Gwynedd.
“We are also working hard to encourage more women to enter the industry so it was fantastic to hear that so many of the female pupils that took part in the event have expressed interest in finding out more about careers in green construction.”
