Esh Construction is set to launch an interactive learning zone as part of its Skills Investor partnership of Skills Street, a new interactive learning facility in South Yorkshire.
Skills Street is an immersive and innovative careers learning experience developed by Gulliver’s Valley Theme Parks and The Work-wise Foundation to inspire and inform children, young people and adults from across the South Yorkshire region and beyond.
Based at the Gulliver’s Valley site in Rotherham, Skills Street’s indoor and outdoor resource centre and will feature a multi-disciplinary sector offer and is expected to welcome 16,000 students annually, while activities will be accessible to the general public, community groups and leisure visitors.
In becoming a Skills Street Investor, Esh Construction marks National Careers Week – which takes place between 4-9 March – by reaffirming its commitment to developing the future workforce. Esh will develop a construction-based workshop within the Skills Street facility and a team of Skills Street workers, dubbed as ‘Edutainers’, will support the delivery of hands-on sessions developed by the North of England contractor, all focussed on raising awareness of construction related careers.
Esh Construction Divisional Director, Steven Garrigan, said: “We have been working with Rotherham Council on multiple projects and providing meaningful opportunities to young people in the area through our construction work is a key part of our ethos.
“Skills Street is an exciting, new facility which will help us engage with learners of all ages, with schools, colleges, higher education and training companies all having access to the facilities. We are thrilled to partner with the programme to raise career aspirations and change perceptions of the industry across the South Yorkshire region.”
Within a dedicated area of the centre, Esh will set up a bespoke ‘build zone’ which will feature interactive displays directing learners to more information on a variety of construction careers. Esh’s award-winning employability and careers programmes, including Stay Safe, Get into STEM and Construction In The Curriculum (CITC), will be specially adapted to provide a fun and immersive experience.
Esh’s Social Value Manager for Yorkshire, Megan Roberts, said: “A fundamental part of our social value delivery is engaging within local communities surrounding our construction sites. In the last 18 months, we have delivered employability sessions to more than 2,200 learners and over 500 apprentice weeks have been facilitated across our construction sites. This new partnership will helper bolster our offering in the region.”
Skills Street was part of a winning bid secured by Rotherham Council through the Government’s Levelling Up Fund. James Beighton, Skills Street Development Manager, said: “It is fantastic to be working with a forward-thinking business like Esh, bringing practical insights into Skills Street and inspiring more people at an earlier age to explore the construction industry.
“South Yorkshire has a huge need for skills in this sector, and this is our opportunity to bring industry led learning to the forefront of all levels of education.”
Skills Street is set to be unveiled to the public later this year. In advance of the formal opening, Esh will take over a temporary space from Spring 2024, providing younger children with the opportunity to interact and learn in an Esh-driven construction sector environment.
Keep up to date with developments at Skills Street.
Skills Street is an exciting, new facility which will help us engage with learners of all ages, with schools, colleges, higher education and training companies all having access to the facilities. We are thrilled to partner with the programme to raise career aspirations and change perceptions of the industry across the South Yorkshire region.”
