Member Article

Harrison, 20, set for career in construction thanks to The Prince’s Trust

A career in the mechanical plumbing or electrical trade beckons for a Bangor man following work experience on a Wynne Construction site.

Harrison Griffiths, 20, joined contractors working on the site of the new Ysgol Glancegin, Maesgeirchen, Bangor,to try out different jobs in construction.

He was one of 12 young people who joined the latest Get into Construction programme run by youth charity, The Prince’s Trust.

Wynne Construction started the ï¿¡4.8m 12-month project in summer 2016. The new school will admit its first pupils in September. Wynne Construction will then demolish the former school buildings and landscape this area to create a new playground and outside learning space.

A former pupil of Ysgol Tryfan, Bangor, Harrison studied a pre-vocational course, levels 1 and 2, at Coleg Menai, Llangefni before deciding to try to work in construction. He learned about the taster programme from Careers Wales.

Harrison said: “I realised that there is a lot of construction work at the moment and lots of jobs available. It sounds like reliable work and it will give me a living.

“This work experience has been very useful. I have tried plumbing and electrical works and I have had lots of opportunities from it already.

“I have learned about installing pipes safely and about lagging. I think I might try for an apprenticeship in plumbing.”

Wynne Construction joined Willmott Dixon and Kier Construction, as members of the North Wales Construction Framework, to deliver the Get into Construction programme.

Established by The Prince’s Trust, the course provides training and vocational experience to help unemployed young people aged 16-25 find employment.

Wynne Construction site manager Bryn Roberts said: “Harrison teamed up with his work buddy from our mechanical and electrical contractor and I only see him at the end of each day. He’s really got on with the job.

“I hope that in the little time that he spent on site was enough to sample the work and maybe help Harrison in his future choices.”

Harrison was one of three young people on the programme who were selected for work experience on the Wynne Construction site.

Phil Jones, Director for The Prince’s Trust Cymru, said, “We are delighted to work alongside Wynne Construction and the North Wales Construction Framework to provide opportunities for young people. Congratulations to Harrison and the other young people who are making great strides towards their futures.”

Headquartered in Bodelwyddyn, Wynne Construction is currently building a number of other schools, including Ysgol Cybi in Holyhead and Ysgol Rhyd Y Llan for Anglesey County Council, a new shared site at Glasdir in Ruthin for Ysgol Pen Barras and Rhos Street primary schools, and the Bala Learning Campus for Gwynedd Council .

The projects have been partly funded by the Welsh Government through the 21st Century Schools Programme, and are part of the ï¿¡200m Schools and Public Buildings Contractor Framework for North Wales.

For more information about Wynne Construction visit www.wynneconstruction.co.uk

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sam Harris .