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Lincoln College students gain practical experience with construction company  

July 12 2021

Lincoln College students have been getting some hands-on practical experience thanks to a local construction company working on a project on campus.    

Lincolnshire-based Gelder Group are currently tasked with developing the college’s new Institute of Technology (IoT), Professional Skills Centre (PSC) and The Lincoln Business Centre, as part of a multi-million-pound project.    

It’s a complex refurbishment project on Lincoln College’s Grade II listed Gibney building, which means students are gaining valuable and essential knowledge of working on an older building. 

Because the project is on campus, it means students with a wide range of skills studying courses such as bricklaying, joinery, plastering and multi-trade, have been able to join the construction team to gain vital, practical skills, thanks to the hard work and dedication between the team at Gelder’s and college lecturers.

It’s a move that has helped students enormously, particularly during the current covid-19 restrictions, which have often made it difficult for work experience placements to be arranged.    

Jackie Howells, Progress Coach at Lincoln College Group, said: “It’s been a lifeline really as Covid restrictions have been very tough and it’s meant we’ve not been able to place as many students with employers as we’d normally do.

“So having Gelder’s here on campus and taking on students, has helped enormously and given students the practical experience they need.”    

Gelder’s have taken on more than 40 students over the last few months for a week at a time and according to the company’s site manager, Anthony Paton, they have helped enormously.    

“Depending on experience, students have worked on various parts of the project, giving them site experience on things such as joinery and bricklaying,” said Anthony. “It also gives students the chance to find out for themselves whether this is something they want to do or not.”    

Gelder’s and their contractors have put in lots of time and effort supervising students and overseeing work and teaching students, while continuing to manage the overall site and remaining on schedule for completion.  

Paul Cottam, who works as a joiner with Gelder’s, has been responsible for working with the majority of students during their week’s experience.    

Paul said: “We’ve had students at various levels of experience and we’ve tried to keep them busy and give them an insight into the work and what to expect on site.”    

And it’s been this work experience that has paid dividends for bricklaying student Chris Cox. He’s just completed his Level 2 and is now on a three-month extended trial placement with a view to a possible apprenticeship at the end.    

Chris said: “I’m really loving it, it’s the best thing I’ve done and it’s shown me I definitely want to stay doing this and hopefully work for Gelder’s.”    

Carpentry and joinery students Jamie Bell and Mark Major, both said they’ve benefitted from their time on site.    

“I did lots of different things and it definitely gave me an insight into the industry,” said Mark, who is now looking to progress to Level 2 Joinery at Lincoln College.    

 Jamie, who is on the same course said, he hoped the experience would enable him to progress in the industry.    

 “This was my first time on a site, so it’s helped out massively - it would be good to get a trial or an apprenticeship.”    

Sarah Louise Fairburn, Deputy Chair of the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “It's great to see this project taking shape as it will further enhance skills provision in the city of Lincoln in engineering and manufacturing, digital and IT and health and care.

“It's particularly pleasing to see Gelder Group going the extra mile to enable Lincoln College students to get some real-world experience by working on the construction site.”

The Institute of Technology and Professional Skills Centre Courses are due for completion in September as is The Lincoln Business Centre. They are all being funded with £1.6m of central government funding and £2.3m from the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership, respectively.    

Find out more about our Construction courses here

 

Pictured (l-r) are: Jamie Bell; Mark Major; Anthony Paton; Paul Cottam; Chris Cox