Ashleigh Building Construction Partnership – Belmont Academy

This year marks the 4th year of the Ashleigh Construction Partnership Project with Belmont Academy and Ayrshire College. The partnership with the school and college came together after Managing Director, David Smith and Business Co-Ordinator, Claire Hosie attended a business breakfast at Belmont Academy. The Principal Teacher of Guidance, Ian Watson discussed the need for developing partnerships with employers to help create opportunities for the pupils and increasing their employability skills.

Meetings then took place between Ashleigh Building and Belmont Academy to discuss the ideas that the school had for the partnership and how to make it a beneficial and worthwhile experience for all parties involved. A programme for S3 pupils was then developed which would provide lessons on both professional and trade roles within the construction industry. After the initial meeting, Ayrshire College was contacted to assist in delivering the trade aspects of the construction project and an eight week programme was created.

3rd year pupils apply and interview for the project with 12 pupils selected to participate. This year’s project was based on an Affordable Housing Development at Dickson Drive in Irvine. The project runs over the course of 6 weeks with 12 lessons where pupils have to design, cost plan and programme an affordable housing development. Pupils also attend college where they learn auto cad, joinery, bricklaying and painting & decorating.

At the end of the 6 weeks the three separate teams then present their final development to a panel of judges, with the winning team receiving the Ashleigh Trophy and vouchers for flip out in Glasgow, each participant will also receive their dynamic youth award.