Kier Construction has provided students from Northumberland with "valuable work experience" with a summer programme provided by their Regional Building division.

Six students from Ponteland High School, aged between 15 and 17, spent a week with the project team responsible for building their new school. During their week on site, the group were given first-hand experience of life on a construction site as well as presentations and workshops on a range of construction and business topics, many of which taught them skills that will help them in their studies.

As part of Kier's partnership with the British Heart Foundation, the youngsters also received CPR training.

Speaking about the week, Kier Regional Building project manager, Roddy Graham said: "We were delighted to welcome the group from Ponteland High School on to site. They were a pleasure to have and were all really interested in seeing the progress we are making on their new building and what a career in construction could hold for them.

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Kier places great importance in the development of young people and actively support schools across the country in STEM subjects as well as speaking directly to pupils about the construction industry and ways to enter. We are extremely happy to be working with Northumberland County Council and Ponteland High School to further engage pupils in the development of this new state of the art facility.

Student Amy Anderson, who completed the work experience week said: "Whilst being at Kier, I've learnt more about the large variety of jobs within the construction industry. It's also made me want to look further into the job of a Design Manager. This has been a great experience and I'd strongly recommend other people apply, to take part."

Eileen Armstrong, Northumberland County Councillor for Ponteland East visited the site to meet the students. She said: "It is great that this major development in Ponteland is giving students first-hand experience of the type of jobs and careers they might pursue in the construction industry.

"The development is really taking shape now and is going to provide fantastic learning environments and wonderful community facilities for Ponteland and surrounding communities."

The new Ponteland High School is part of a large £43m leisure and learning space being constructed by Kier Regional Building on behalf of Northumberland County Council. Alongside the new high school, the development will also include a 420-pupil primary school, a community leisure centre, café and library as well as the new Ponteland fire station.

(MH)