Seventeen year-old Imran Khan from Newham, has joined the project team at the Calverton Primary School site, which is one of nine schools Morgan Sindall is expanding as part of the London Borough of Newham's wider plans for expansion. As part of his apprenticeship, Imran will also spend time working at Upton Cross Primary School and Portway Primary School, where Morgan Sindall is also on site.
Imran's interest in construction was piqued after watching his older brother, an architect, at work. He is now working towards a Level 3 Apprenticeship in Construction Contracting Operations at Barking and Dagenham College and works at Calverton Primary School as a trainee project manager four days a week.
Imran said: "I originally wanted to go into mechanics or car maintenance, but my older brother is an architect and I found it really interesting watching him working on design projects and building models. That developed my interest in the construction industry initially, and it just grew gradually from there, until I realised that this is what I want to do.
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"I decided to train to be a project manager because I really enjoy working with people and managing the day-to-day situations which come up on a site. It's exciting to be part of bringing together all the different elements of a project to create a great result for our customer. It's great being able to be part of an active site, especially in my borough.
"This placement really helps in terms of getting practical experience and building contacts and just getting a feel for what being on a construction site is like. What Morgan Sindall's done, in terms of helping me to get this experience, is amazing. Getting this practical, hands-on insight really helps to bring what I learn at college alive."
Imran's main responsibilities on site involve liaising with suppliers, designers and subcontractors, going to meetings with the design and project teams and assisting where needed.
Morgan Sindall is working to expand and upgrade Kensington Primary, Earlham Primary, Woodgrange Infant, Hartley Primary, Central Park Primary, Godwin Junior, Upton Cross Primary and Portway Primary Schools.
Alongside its apprenticeship programme, Morgan Sindall is also offering work experience to youngsters from schools across the Newham area as part of a wider movement to increase engagement with young people who may be thinking of entering the construction industry.
The scheme, which is being run in partnership with the London Borough of Newham, will see nine teenagers take part in two-week placements across the nine Newham school project sites during the summer. Although not able to work on the active construction sites, the students will work from the project office – giving them an insight into the real-world workings of various aspects of the industry – including project planning, design, and project management.
(CD/JP)
