Pictured above: Pupils from Langley Primary School get to grips with a plumbing job

Mansell has hosted a two-day construction skills showcase in a bid to give pupils at two Solihull primary schools first hand experience of the construction industry.

The company worked closely with Solihull Chamber of Commerce to organise the special event at the Solihull Community Housing decent homes project site compound and invited youngsters from Monkspath Primary School and Langley Primary School to see what was going on.

Mansell laid on "taster" demonstrations in a special tent within the site where youngsters could try their hand at plumbing, carpentry, electrical work, tiling, bricklaying, rendering and plastering. The students watched Mansell experts at their trade before having a go themselves. More than 60 pupils took part.

Mansell is carrying out a £25 million contract for Solihull Community Housing, undertaking decent homes and refurbishment work to the local authority housing stock.

Mansell Western region partnership housing manager, Simon Liversage said, "It's an opportunity to give youngsters a chance to have a real life experience of a building site in a safe environment and to get over the message that the construction industry can be exciting. The students got valuable hands-on experience and advice from the industry professionals who were guiding them. As well as giving them an insight into the industry, it gave them food for thought in respect of their future career paths."