Careers in construction were in the spotlight when Brendon Smurthwaite, Community Manager at PBS Construction, visited the school to discuss the wide range of employment options available within the sector.

Approximately 30 students took advantage of the opportunity to learn more about the pathways and qualifications required to enter the construction industry. Students were also interested to learn about the many varied roles available, from Site Operative to Contracts Manager, and Health and Safety Officer to roles in Admin and Finance.   

The visit was arranged thanks to the school’s involvement in the Hull and East Yorkshire Careers Hub – one of 44 national hubs led by The Careers and Enterprise Company.

Launched by the government in 2015, the Careers and Enterprise company is the national body for careers education in England. It supports schools and colleges by training and supporting Careers Leaders and, through their Careers Hubs, ensures every young person can find their ‘best next step’ for future employment. 

Careers Hubs bring together schools, colleges, employers, and apprenticeship providers in local areas across England. Their goal is to make it easier for educational settings to improve how they prepare young people for the world of work through dedicated support teams and partnerships with key employers.

As an Enterprise Advisor within the Hull and East Yorkshire Careers Hub, Brendon is one of countless representatives from local business who are best-placed to help support schools across the region.

Commenting on PBS’ involvement in the Hull and East Yorkshire Hub, Brendon said: “As a business, we feel it’s really important to engage with schools and help to support careers initiatives wherever we can. It was a pleasure to visit Withernsea High and explain to the students the different careers pathways within the construction industry and the types of skills they need to pursue those roles. It was a really enjoyable morning and we’re looking forward to supporting future careers events at the school.”

School Careers Leader, Viki Foster, added: “It was great to welcome Brendon to the school and for our students to learn about the different careers that are available within the construction industry.

All students who took part have an interest in entering the construction sector, and the subsequent feedback has been really positive – with many students commenting that it has helped them to understand what is required for them to pursue a career in construction.

Opportunities such as these, which allow students to interact directly with representatives from local business, are essential in helping them to make informed decisions about their post-16 pathways towards future employment.”

In an act of synchronicity, students were given a first-hand glimpse of PBS’ construction skills in action after the company was awarded the contract for access improvement works to the school site.  

An initially estimated three-week period of construction began on Saturday 22^nd October, consisting of footway and carriageway works which included the removal of existing radius kerbs and the installation of new ones to enable the widening of the access for vehicles.

Commenting on these works, School Business and Site Manager Sarah Evans said: “We are delighted with the works to our school drive. This has improved visibility at the junction to Hull Road, improving safety for our students as well as for drivers, and making the turn easier for buses. We were impressed by the team who worked on this project and by their hard work, which resulted in completion earlier than expected. We would like to thank the local community for their patience during these important works.”

Established in 1988, the family-owned and Hull-based PBS Construction (N.E Limited) are a Chartered Building Company and a member of the Civil Engineering Association (CECA) who employ around 120 people.

Over the last 34 years, PBS have developed long and successful partnerships with local authorities including Hull City Council, East Riding of Yorkshire Council, North East Lincolnshire Council and North Yorkshire County Council. 

They are committed to staff development and have a successful apprenticeship programme which sees them support local young people to develop their workforce for the future.

ABOVE: Brendon Smurthwaite of PBS Construction visited the school to work with students interested in a career in construction. 

ABOVE: Access improvement works have improved safety and visibility at the school's main entrance.