Learning in Lockdown

The construction industry is facing up to a perfect storm of challenges at the moment. Behind the very immediate public health crisis, one of these is ensuring we have the talent we need to deliver projects in a climate friendly, digital and ultra-productive future.

For some time, our industry has been doing an amazing job of inspiring young people to follow STEM, and built environment industry, careers. Opportunities to experience real construction sites and gain work experience of the multitude of specialist roles that go into delivering infrastructure projects has been a key part of this.

Social distancing and the responsible management of public health on construction sites has meant that all opportunities for summer term work experience have been taken away this year. At SCAPE, we were really concerned that a year group didn’t miss out on the inspiration of taking part in shaping our built environment.

To address this, we’ve been working together with experts from across the built environment, education sectors and our partners and I’m pleased to announce that today, SCAPE are launching Learning in Lockdown - the UK’s first fully accredited virtual work experience programme.

Running from 18^th May 2020, Learning in Lockdown is a free to join, not for profit, week-long programme, open to all Year 10 and S4 students in UK secondary schools, led by SCAPE and created by Class of Your Own, Learn Live, EDT (The Engineering Development Trust) and Industrial Cadets.

The programme will be delivered by a panel of industry experts, from across the UK’s biggest contractors and consultants and will include daily sessions with industry and career insights, mentoring and fully moderated live chat to engage and inspire pupils. Students from Heriot Watt University’s School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society (EGIS), will also be on hand to provide extra advice to the online learners.

Working together in small virtual groups, alongside industry mentors to deliver a fully detailed design proposal for the real-life construction project, the students will learn and put into practice a real-world skills, from creative thinking and team collaboration, through to building design and project management, with prizes available for exceptional teams.

Students that take part in the whole programme will have completed 30 hours of accredited work experience, and by submitting an Esteem Pavilion Challenge entry, they will receive the Industrial Cadets – Silver level Award, which allows them to become part of the nationally recognised Industrial Cadets accreditation network and open a door to further exciting opportunities.

Learning in Lockdown also supports the construction industry’s shared goal of delivering “more good” in communities, and so will be monitored by the Social Value Portal.

We’re really proud to be involved in this project, and to have had such a fantastic response from our partners, and industry experts, to create a lasting legacy for many pupils across the UK who might have otherwise missed out on their work experience opportunities.

Take a look at our Learning in Lockdown page via the link below for more information, or to register your interest.