23 February 2009
Islington students build for their future with the City of
London Corporation
St Aloysius School in Islington has laid down foundations for a
unique 15-month-long partnership with Sir Robert McAlpine, a
leading UK construction and civil engineering company, to give
young people exclusive access to experience on construction sites
in the City. Work began this month on Riverbank House at 90-94
Upper Thames Street, a 10-storey, 40,000m2 building on the banks of
the River Thames, and which will be the focal point of the
student’s City Site Visits.
Once a quarter, 20 Islington students aged 14 years and over
will return to the construction site to oversee the lifecycle of
the development first hand. As well as learning about modern
construction methods, the programme gives them the opportunity to
scope and sample the different work roles involved in such
large-scale projects.
Lord Mayor of the City Ian Luder says, “The City of London is
not only committed to increasing the educational attainment of
young people in the City fringes, we are also committed to raising
their awareness and aspirations in relation to the range of
different career opportunities, such as careers in construction, on
their doorstep in the City.”
With a high proportion of school-leavers unaware of job
specifications and career paths, and how their subject choices will
affect these, the City of London Corporation is encouraging
students to look at their exit strategy now and how their subject
choices will impact in future years.
The City Site visit, brokered by the City of London Corporation,
provides the St Aloysius students with on-site experience of:
- The specific construction project at 90-94 Upper Thames
Street
- The organisation and management of large-scale construction
projects
- The relationship between developers; main contractors and the
supply chain
- Safe and efficient construction: incident and injury free
- The different construction sectors; professions and
management
Ends
Notes for editors
The City of London Corporation is committed to maintaining and
enhancing the status of the business City as a world leading
international financial and business centre and is also proud of
the many partnership and regeneration projects it supports across
wider London, working with national and other local government – as
well as business and the not-for-profit sector.
The City Site Programme aims to encourage young people into
positive choices of construction as a career option by introducing
them to active developments in the Square Mile. Working with
Education Business Partnerships (EBPs) across eight boroughs,
Further Education colleges, the Institute of Civil Engineers, the
East London Business Alliance and the sites themselves, 140
students aged 14-19 have visited a range of developments in the
City.
Press enquiries
Rosalind Jeffcoat or Neil Cassley at Rain UK. T: 020 7222 4345.
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