Pictured above: (l-r) with Speller Metcalfe staff wearing
white hats: Speller Metcalfe's Site Manager, Mark Taylor and Health
and Safety Manager Norman Davies and Eddie Minton, with Lecturer in
Construction for Gloucestershire College Craig Bloxsome
National building contractor Speller Metcalfe were delighted to
host students during a recent tour of a new sports and education
facility the firm has been building at Winchcombe School in
Gloucestershire.
The Launchpad learners, studying the Level 2 Higher Diploma in
Construction and the Built Environment, viewed many aspects of the
construction of the new build, due for completion in May. Work at
the site commenced in late 2010 with the building of a new combined
sports and education suite including changing and shower rooms,
administration office, classrooms and a dance and drama studio. The
emphasis for the use of both the new sports hub and all weather
sports pitch is that they are used both by the school and by the
wider community.
Speller Metcalfe spokesman, Andy Metcalfe stated: "We have had
excellent relations with the Gloucestershire College for many
years, in the form of supervised site visits for students and the
release of our professional staff to go into the college to give
"Flavour of the Industry" seminars.
"Inspiration for this tour was to break the mould and bring the
students in to a real live site to meet professionals and to learn
about key areas and the requirements of today's modern construction
industry."
On the visit the students experienced the site in the transition
from masonry walls through to roof carcass construction and had the
chance to review the construction techniques being used whilst
getting firsthand insight in to issues of site constraints and the
need for careful planning of sequence of operations, in the modern
building environment. The students also completed a number of tasks
that were organised by Speller Metcalfe's Health and Safety Manager
Norman Davies and Site Manager Mark Taylor, including a full
induction to the site, a tour of the building, a closer inspection
of the materials used for construction and a 'live' site health and
safety review.
Andy Metcalfe went on to say: "We hope the students saw the
enthusiasm and real challenges of the industry. From our point of
view, it was a good exercise to look at activities from their
perspective. Quite refreshing to gain the feedback from the
students and rewarding when there were constructive comments."
The site drew much praise from students and teaching staff
alike, with Samuel Galeckyi, one of the visiting students saying:
"The visit was very productive and there was a lot more things to
do on site than I thought and I may consider applying for work
experience for year 11. Speller Metcalfe is a local business, they
are good at their jobs and there is a lot to learn on a visit to
one of their projects."