Year 10 students at the South Devon University Technical College learnt about the housebuilding process and developed their engineering skills when Linden Homes visited them recently.
Throughout the day, four classes met Andy Sykes – Linden Homes’ technical project manager – who explained the principles of housebuilding to the pupils, who have just started their courses in engineering and science.
Andy commented: “I spoke to the students about how a company progresses from finding land to designing and building a scheme, using our local Kings Gate development in Kingseignton as an example.
“I explained how we needed to reduce life-size layouts and buildings down in scale in order for us to issue information to enable build to proceed.”
The students were then divided into groups and given a task to design a 12m x 8m detached house, using their imagination and a scale rule.
Andy added: “We had lots of discussions on the engineering challenges we face when creating a new homes development, such as topography and providing the necessary services. There were some fantastic entries and everyone was really enthusiastic, it was great to see them all so inspired.”
Alison Hannah, assistant principal at South Devon UTC said: “Our new intake of year 10 students were given an opportunity to experience the design challenges met by Linden Homes during a workshop. The task not only gave them an insight into the work of designers but also enabled them to further develop their skills in negotiating, collaboration and problem solving – attributes that are likely to make them highly employable in the workplace.”
The SDUTC is working closely with local industry in the fields of engineering, the environment and water to offer GCSE studies for pupils from Year 10, plus A-Levels and BTECs for those aged 16-18. The college is supported by a number of significant employers and founding partners of the UTC, including Galliford Try, South West Water, Centrax, the Environment Agency and national charity Water Aid.
Brian Deacon, sales and marketing director of Linden Homes (part of the Galliford Try Group) said: “As one of the nation’s leading home-builders, with a strong portfolio across the South West, we’re very keen to support the UTC and to see it, and its students, succeed. The construction and civil engineering sector needs young people with the skills required to help drive economic growth in the future, and we hope this new school will help to provide them.”
For information on the South Devon University Technical College visit www.southdevonutc.org
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Media can contact Emma Mackay on 077383 12960 for more information, images and interviews with Linden Homes.
