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The programme, which has been running for three years, aims to empower pupils to make informed decisions around post school opportunities within Construction.
Week one brought 23 Renfrewshire Council school students involved in the programme to their Head Office in Barrhead to hear first-hand how the energy efficiency works A.C. Whyte deliver will support the journey to net zero. They were also given hands on experience, trying out some of the trades involved in external wall insulation, including boarding, plastering, and roughcasting.
Week two and three brought the pupils to the West College Scotland Paisley Campus where they completed a written assessment based on their knowledge on the previous week, the questions were based on external wall insulation and energy efficiency. They were also given a tour of the Institution of Construction Engineering (ICE) building within the campus, which contains air source heat pumps, ground source heat pumps, a TESLA storage battery, thermal solar panels and photovoltaic solar panels. Tommy Campbell, Performance Coach provided them with a detailed tour, description of the equipment and how these renewable energy efficiency measures will have a big part to play in achieving Scotland's ambitious, yet achievable energy efficiency targets.
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The final week was a careers session, CV and personal statement workshop where our Head of HR, Stephanie Connor delivered a presentation on the routes to jobs with A.C. Whyte, which heavily focussed on our A.C. Whyte Energy Efficiency Skills Academy. Stephanie said: "The Skills Academy is a unique opportunity to allow students, or Akademos as they are known to experience a blend of practical training, as well as in a real site environment, under the expert supervision of some of A.C. Whyte's most experiences operatives. On successful completion of the course, they will be offered full time, permanent employment with A.C. Whyte. We look forward to welcoming the pupils to our Academy should they wish to apply as a route to the construction industry, which will go on to help deliver our energy efficient future."
Stephanie was joined by Tommy Campbell and Steven McNellis, Construction Director of A.C. Whyte who talked to the pupils about their career paths to date and explained that there is no wrong path to success, with hard work and determination, they could achieve anything they put their minds to. The day was complete with a prize giving to recognise the pupils who stood out.
Jenna Wilson, Marketing Executive of A.C. Whyte, who designed and delivered the programme alongside her A.C. Whyte colleagues said: "With world leading, ambitious targets for net zero, Scotland needs a carbon army and it is essential that we attract talent to our sector in order to deliver on our ambitions. Engaging with My Future Pathways Construction Programme has allowed us to educate students on the opportunities and careers available with our business and our Skills Academy model provides an access route to these roles."
Jenna also said: "A.C. Whyte welcome opportunities to collaborate and partner with our Local Authority clients to deliver programmes such as this, nurturing our sectors future talent is a responsibility we embrace. We look forward to rolling this programme out within the areas we work in."
