Willows Students Get A Taste Of Construction At The New Splott Pool

Five students from Willows High School have been given an insight into the world of construction after spending the afternoon with Willmott Dixon’s local project team at the site of the new Splott pool and community hub. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The trip was organized by First Campus and Cardiff Metropolitan University as part of a wider project to provide development opportunities for school children, alongside the renovation of a new learning centre at Willows high school. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The five year 10 and 11 students heard first hand from Willmott Dixon site manager Huw Triggs about how the development of Splott pool and community hub is progressing, how the construction project is managed and the career opportunities that are available to young people within the industry. Sue Marx from Cardiff and Vale College was also on hand to offer advice and guidance on Apprenticeship schemes in construction as well as other industries. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

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Students went on to complete a full building tour of the construction site which is on track for completion in September. The hub will include a 25 metre swimming pool, a gym and fitness suite, a new library, community and leisure rooms and a community cafe. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Dawn Manning, Art & Design teacher and Careers lead at Willows High School, accompanied the students on their visit. She said: “This was a fantastic experience for our year 10 and 11 students. Many of them are starting to think about potential career paths and some have expressed an interest in construction. To have the chance to visit a major construction project within their own community and be offered information and advice from experienced professionals who have established their own careers in the industry, is invaluable. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We are very grateful to Willmott Dixon for offering this opportunity to support our students. I know that we were all fascinated to hear how Huw is managing the project build and the opportunities that are available to our pupils to build their future careers. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Willows High School would also like to thank First Campus and Cardiff Metropolitan University for their efforts. All the students who attended the site visit have now applied for Apprenticeships in construction or motor vehicle maintenance. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We hope to be involved with any future projects developed in Cardiff to ensure more students become aware of these fantastic opportunities for their futures.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Fifteen year old Willows High School student Cory Phillips, took part in the visit and said: “The visit was interesting and gave me a better idea of what people do on construction sites. I enjoyed hearing from Huw about how the projects are managed and how he started in the industry too.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Willmott Dixon Group is one of the UK’s largest privately-owned construction, regeneration and support services companies. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​