Teaching the Trades

A new course designed by Robertson Group in line with Education Scotland’s Developing the Young Workforce (employability group) has been implemented comprising of two sessions per week throughout the school year (48 sessions in total). During this time a class of 10 15-16 year old pupils learn skills to make them more employable (in construction) when they leave school.

The course is run by Robertson in conjunction with the school and is split into three sections:

• Employability skills – team work, building a CV, job searching and interview preparation.
• Practical skills – designing and building a timber hut (made from recycled timber). This includes input from trade sub-contractors. The class constructs and assembles a large hut, gaining skills in brick work, concrete pouring, electrical wiring, joinery, glazing and decoration.
• Work experience (shadowing) to be undertaken with eight separate sub-contractors to give the pupils an understanding of the different trades at work.

Health and safety training has been provided, including attending Jason Anker’s behavioural safety talk and e-learning courses.

We received extremely positive feedback from the school on the improvement in the pupils’ interest, motivation and work ethic.