A new specialist design and construction course is set to be offered to students at Liverpool's NexGen Academy.

The Design, Engineer, Construct Learning Programme will be delivered by UK contractor GRAHAM and alternative education provider and social enterprise Class of Your Own.

The DEC Learning Programme was created by Class of Your Own for secondary school students interested in pursuing a career in the property and construction sector.

It is an accredited two-year programme completed on a project basis with the resultant qualification equivalent to a GCSE.

GRAHAM will provide a series of workshops covering the roles of architects, building services engineers, landscape designers, site engineers and facilities managers.

Students will also learn about the role of building information modelling technology in construction and GRAHAM will be taking students on-site to experience live projects across the North West.

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The course will culminate in the students delivering a final presentation on how they would design and build an eco-friendly classroom.

Alice Watson, chief executive of Class of Your Own, said: "This is a really exciting collaboration. GRAHAM's award-winning, specialist support will prove invaluable to the students and teachers of NexGen Academy. Class of Your Own is launching some exciting new projects this year, including one that will be of particular interest to DEC students who might wish to pursue an alternative career pathway in sport! Watch this space - with GRAHAM's experts in the team, NexGen is heading for the Construction Premier league!"

Michael Smyth, HR Director at GRAHAM added: "This is a fantastic initiative that we're incredibly proud to be a part of. Helping young people understand the opportunities available to them in the construction and property sector – and giving them the skills they need to get started – is really important to us.

"It's imperative that the industry maintains a keen focus on education – especially as we see technology evolve and with it the skills required to deliver best-in-class infrastructure. Encouraging more young people to enter our industry is crucial for the UK construction sector as a whole and it's a key part of our role to help develop the next generation of construction professionals."

The DEC Learning Programme forms part of a drive to encourage more school leavers to consider careers in the construction and property sector. It aims to provide them with the skills they need to progress and play a key role in the future of the built environment.

The Programme will be delivered in conjunction with tutors at Nexgen Academy, which works with students who have fallen out of mainstream education in the Liverpool area.

(CM/MH)