Rok's construction week challenge at Kingsmead

Taunton builders Rok have set a challenge for pupils at Kingsmead Community School to co-incide with National Construction Week.

Rok, who are building a new teaching block for the school, are keen to let the pupils be as involved as possible in what is happening on site outside their windows and will be working closely with staff to keep everyone informed.

As part of this process and to open the students' eyes to the world of construction, the site team has set the year seven and eight pupils the task of designing a Rok garden with a sustainable theme with a prize for the winning design.

The students will have some time site aside in school for the design process, as well as being encouraged to use their own time, and the hope is that they will produce 3D models of their schemes. Judging will take place in a month's time.

Business development manager Melissa Barber said: "We already work extensively with the Construction Industry Training Board to help get the message across in schools that our industry can be exciting, worthwhile and rewarding.

"Competitions like this one can act as an introduction to careers such as architecture, surveying and building."

A web cam has already been set up at Kingsmead to allow the students to follow developments as the new building takes shape and there are a number of other projects in the pipeline including guided site tours and careers events.

Rok, which was responsible for the redevelopment of the campus at Somerset College of Arts and Technology has won several awards for its work in the community, particularly in education. Its most recent was an Edge Employer Award for its commitment to practical learning. Earlier in the year it scooped a Somerset Linx Education Business Award for outstanding contribution to education.

THE Government is spending £76billion on capital investment in schools, homes, roads and hospitals over the next five years and estimates suggest that could mean we need 430,000 new recruits in the construction industry over that period to meet demand.

Which is the reason behind National Construction Week, which provides a platform for all companies and organisations involved in the industry to reach future workers.

NCW is a nationwide campaign to promote today's construction industry to young people and to give them the chance to experience the varied and exciting career opportunities in this field.

This year's NCW took place from October 6-13 . Somerset College of Arts and Technology, in Taunton, took part, although its event in the £2.5million Genesis Centre was held yesterday (Wednesday).

Secondary students from across the area were given a presentation by Lesley Seymour about careers in the built environment and she shared her experiences of projects in Bangladesh.

The students were also given a hard-hat tour of the Genesis Centre.