Willmott Dixon Partnerships has given the kitchen at a local children's hospice in Birmingham a total makeover.

The company also called on three former work experience students, currently studying at South and City College, to use their skills in providing a new kitchen to Acorns Children's Hospice, in Selly Oak.

Local students Ellie King, 21, Harry Taylor, 24, and Joshua Coton, 19, were able to join forces with Willmott Dixon to renew the kitchen's ceiling tiles, upgrade the lighting system, fit new gas hobs and extractor fans, and replace the kitchen doors.

Ellie, Harry and Joshua came through Willmott Dixon's Opening Doors work experience programme, which gives nearly 200 people a year vital experience of the workplace. It's a company-wide initiative to encourage lifelong learning and allow people to learn new skills.

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Ellie King said: "It's been great to be back working with Willmott Dixon and to help a local charity organisation at the same time. I really enjoyed my work placement with the company and have thoroughly enjoyed this opportunity to practice my new skills."

Willmott Dixon Customer and Community Officer for Birmingham North, Jenny Jones, said: "We've been thrilled working with the students on this project and would like to work with them again in the future. Willmott Dixon offers so many learning and training opportunities through our Opening Doors programme, to support people looking to pursue a career in the construction industry. This is also the fourth year that we've supported Acorns during their Clean and Clear Week and it's been fantastic to build on our relationship with such a prominent local charity, who do wonderful work in the community."

Mick Williamson, Managing Director of Willmott Dixon Partnerships added: "This is very much part of our ethos called Transforming Communities, which is about how we can make a real, positive difference to the lives of people living locally. We want to play an active part in delivering initiatives that leave real legacy and recently wrote a report, called Transforming Communities, to share ideas and help organisations deliver sustainable growth to help communities through these current austere times."

(CD/JP)