Case Study: Bucks University Technical College

As part of our commitment to creating lasting value for the communities we operate in, we have entered into a formal partnership with Bucks University Technical College.

This is designed to make students aware of the range of careers available in the industry, through a mix of classroom and site-based sessions.

Representatives from across Inland Homes first met the students in June 2019, when they spoke to students at the college about their roles and the career opportunities available. The classroom presentations were followed by visits to Abbey Wharf in Alperton, Centre Square in High Wycombe and Farrier’s Wood in Garston, with more than 40 students attending.

Sebastian Czajka, Project Manager at our Abbey Wharf development, hosted three visits to his site.

“Construction is a great industry to work in, with lots of change happening, and by showing them a best-practice site in action - a live construction site - we hope we have been able to build a picture of life in the industry and help them decide whether this is something they want to do in their lives,” he said. “There is a shortage of construction workers, but there are also so many other opportunities, not necessarily on site in trades but also technical and commercial roles and it is rewarding for us that we are able to demonstrate this."

Kevin Fraud, Lecturer at Bucks UTC, added:

Opportunities like these make it real. They open up their eyes to what it actually means working in construction, to the planning, the procedures, the project management – understanding the logistics of it all."

For students Oliver Jones, Kinga Karasz and Robert Gomez Gomez the visits were more than just a break from the classroom – as welcome as that was.

“I’m not entirely sure what I want to do when I leave. I’m keeping my options open, but visits like these are useful in helping me decide,”

said Oliver.

For Kinga, who is aiming to be a civil engineer, architect or quantity surveyor, the visit provided an opportunity to find out more about these career options:

“I really enjoyed today, having the opportunity to walk around and ask questions. I’ve learnt too much to even start,”

she said.

Robert, who has his sights set on being an architect added:

“It’s been really useful, definitely, and 100% a good break from the classroom!”

We are developing an ongoing education programme with the College, which we will implement in the year ahead.