Construction students tour Milford Haven building project

Pembrokeshire College construction students have had a taster of what life is like working in local authority building maintenance.

The students, who are enrolled onto a National Diploma in Construction, Design and Management course starting in September, were given a tour last week of an ongoing project in Milford Haven.

Run by Pembrokeshire County Council’s building maintenance team, the Larch Road project has involved the refurbishment of 11 flats following a fire in the communal areas. Most of the internal work has been done, with exterior work to be completed.

Rhys Jones, Building Maintenance Operations Manager, said it was the first time the college and local authority had worked together to show students some of the Council’s work.

“We are hopeful that by joining forces with the College and its students, we can improve future employment opportunities in the local construction industry and give students a good idea of the type of upgrade, refurbishment and maintenance works we carry out across a vast array of portfolios.” he said.

Ahead of the site visit, students attended the Council depot in Thornton where officers gave them an insight into the management of the Larch Road project, and the work carried out by the Building Maintenance team.

The students said they found the day useful and were looking forward to starting their course in September.

Wendy Weber, Head of the Built Environment at Pembrokeshire College, said: “We are so very grateful that Pembrokeshire County Council provided our future learners with an opportunity to experience real jobs on a live site in real time. They loved it and felt the opportunity ‘brought their future to life’.

“The team on site were great with our young people and gave a valuable insight into job roles and what they actually entail. We look forward to further collaboration with the council’s maintenance teams in the future.”

Pictured at Larch Road are the students with Rhys Jones, Building Maintenance Operations Manager, Richard Prout, Building Maintenance Programme Manager, and lecturers Steve Tindall and Shawnee Clewett.