In an effort to help inspire the next generation of construction workers, students from schools across Hull and East Yorkshire continue to be supported by National Highways and construction partner Balfour Beatty with opportunities to visit their multimillion-pound A63 road improvement scheme in Hull.

Since November 2021, almost two hundred students from eighteen schools across the region have benefitted from inspirational visits designed to inform them about the wide variety of roles available within a multinational company and the construction industry as a whole.

With an estimated completion date of 2025, the five-year Castle Street project is one of the most substantial construction programmes to be seen in our area in recent years. Its magnitude is reflected by the complexity of the work involved which has resulted in collaborative efforts between a diverse range of professionals – from archaeologists to specialist tunnelling experts.

The long-awaited £355 million improvement scheme aims to reduce congestion, enhance safety and enable better connections across the city – including faster access to the Port of Hull.

A key element of the works is the creation of a new split-level junction which will lower the A63 at Mytongate to enable traffic for Ferensway and Commercial Road to cross the main carriageway overhead. This is arguably the most challenging part of the project due to the geographical characteristics of the area and the specialist equipment required to overcome associated problems on site.   

Taking advantage of the opportunity to explore the links between Geography and Engineering, a group of Year 9 students from Withernsea High School recently visited the site to learn more about the project and its associated career pathways.

From the vantage points of Murdoch’s Connection, opened in March 2021 as the primary link between the city centre and the marina, and the more-recently installed Porter Street footbridge, close to the Daltry Street flyover, students were afforded great views of the extensive work in progress across the full site.   

From a geographical point of view, students learned of the challenges presented by the high water table and issues concerning urban drainage. By exploring the engineering solutions being used to combat these problems, including the extra supports required to stabilise the unconsolidated ground, students were able to understand the valuable link between the two subjects.

Sarah Harris-Smith, Head of Humanities at Withernsea High School, said: “The visit to the Castle Street construction site helped to show our students how geographical knowledge is essential for a project of this nature, where the link between the two subjects was evident in a very visual way. This helped to create understanding and awareness of how knowledge from one specialist subject can help to inform key decisions in another.”

Carolyn Hunter, trip leader and Teacher of Geography, added: “As well as providing an opportunity for students to get out in the field and bring learning to life, the content of the ‘taught element’ of the day tied in perfectly with a recent unit of study which explored the finite state of certain global resources and how there is a need to be more sustainable and environmentally aware.”

Students were surprised to learn about the environmental impact of concrete and cement - the production of which generates an excessive amount of carbon emissions. They were subsequently interested to learn of the steps taken to help readdress the balance of these emissions through various carbon-cutting measures, including the use of solar power as a means of powering machinery on site. 

A hands-on opportunity to further explore machinery associated with construction was presented in a follow-up event which saw a second group of Withernsea students visit Balfour Beatty’s Wellington Street West compound to participate in an excavator simulator experience.

Facilitated by supply chain partner Flannery Plant Hire, the simulator allowed students to get to grips with the controls of a virtual excavator – demonstrating the complex and precise skills needed to operate such machinery.

From learning the basics of the controls, to the need for monitoring fuel, revs and speed, students were taught how to handle the machine with ‘finesse’ to ensure it operated safely and accurately.

Praising the experience, Viki Foster, Withernsea High School’s Careers Leader, said: “The 360 excavator experience was a fantastic opportunity for our students who had lots of fun exploring the skills required to operate heavy machinery. It sparked enthusiasm and imagination for possible future career opportunities and was a good starting point for students to learn how to access careers within the construction industry.”  

Michaela Maunders, Customer Communications and Stakeholder Lead at Balfour Beatty, said: “We want to thank the students of Withernsea High School for visiting us. The A63 scheme is a really important project for the city’s future and we’re delighted to involve young people in this exciting development. We hope they were inspired by their visit and that it opened their eyes to the opportunities a career in engineering can bring.

Together, National Highways and Balfour Beatty are supporting schools like Withernsea High throughout this scheme. We’re engaging with young people on employment and skills activities and showing young people the possibilities through choosing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) as a career.

Once this scheme has been completed, we will have supported hundreds of young people as well as helping transform this part of Hull city centre, reducing traffic congestion, making the area safer and creating better connections between the city centre and tourist and recreational facilities.”

The wide spectrum of expertise involved in the Castle Street project as a whole has helped to make it the perfect showcase for careers. This has inspired a working partnership between Balfour Beatty and the Hull and East Yorkshire Careers Hub - a collaborative network that plays a key role in connecting employers with schools and colleges.

The hub seeks to create meaningful encounters with employers that enable young people to broaden their horizons, develop employability skills, and take control of their futures. This is achieved through site visits and work experience opportunities, as well as access to guest speakers and support for in-school events.  

Viki Foster added: “The opportunities afforded to young people, thanks to the partnership between Balfour Beatty and the Hull and East Yorkshire Careers Hub, are extremely valuable. Our students were particularly interested to learn more about the many varied careers and apprenticeships, from engineering and communications to archaeology, that are accessible to them within the construction industry and are essential for a project such as this.

As always, our students fully engaged with the experience in a mature and reflective manner. With a high level of interest, they asked some excellent questions and took part in an in-depth conversation about the work that’s taking place.

I am grateful to Balfour Beatty and the Careers Hub for their time and effort in creating such fantastic opportunities for our students.”

Meanwhile, the Castle Street project as a whole continues apace. Commenting on its current progress, Balfour Beatty’s Michaela Maunders said: “With work continuing on the creation of the new junction at Mytongate, traffic has now been moved closer to the Commercial Road side of the junction and work has started to create the northern underpass wall. This includes installing 90 concrete panels into the ground, similar to what has been carried out on the southern side.

The bridge, which will carry Ferensway and Commercial Road over the junction, will also start to take shape this year. This will include a pedestrian footpath over the junction which people will be able to use to cross the road when completed in spring 2025.

Throughout this year, work will also continue to create a new footpath next to the Courts and along the stretch of road from Queen Street down towards Humber Dock Street.”

ABOVE: Students survey the work in progress from the Porter Street footbridge.

ABOVE: Balfour Beatty’s Michaela Maunders led the students on a tour of the multimillion-pound road improvement scheme.

ABOVE: The scale of the project was evident from the temporary infrastructure in place to facilitate the works.

ABOVE: A63 Eastbound from the Porter Street bridge.

ABOVE: A63 Westbound from Murdoch's Connection. 

ABOVE: WHS student Blaike Scarlett gets to grips with the excavator simulator.